Chapter 1 KEYS TO FREE YOURSELF FROM VICTIMHOOD That was then, this is now. Think of a moment in childhood or adolescence when you felt hurt by another's actions, large or small. Try to think of a specific moment, not a generalized impression of that relationship or time of life. Imagine the moment as though you are reliving it. Pay attention to sensory details--sights, sounds, smells, tastes, physical sensations. Then picture yourself as you are now. See yourself enter the past moment and take your past self by the hand. Guide yourself out of the place where you were hurt, out of the past. Tell yourself, "Here I am. I'm going to take care of you." In every crisis there is a transition. Write a letter to a person or situation that has caused you pain, recently or in the past. Be specific about what the person did, or about what happened that you didn't like. Put it all on the table. Say how the actions, words, or events affected you. Then write another letter to the same person or situation--but this time write a thank-you letter, expressing gratitude for what the person has taught you about yourself or how the situation has prompted you to grow. The goal of the thank-you letter is not to pretend to like something you didn't like, or to force yourself to be happy about something painful. Acknowledge that what happened wasn't right and that it hurt. And also notice the healing power in shifting your point of view from a powerless victim to who you really are: a survivor, a person of strength. Harness your freedom to . Make a vision board--a visual representation of what you want to create or embrace in your life. Cut out pictures and words from magazines, old calendars, etc.--there are no rules, just see what attracts you. Paste the images and words to a sheet of poster board or a big piece of cardboard. Notice what patterns emerge. (This is a wonderful practice to do together with dear friends--and with plenty of good food!) Keep your vision board close by and look at it every day. Let this intuitive creation be an arrow to follow. Excerpted from The Gift: 12 Lessons to Save Your Life by Edith Eva Eger All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.