The Power of Letting Go using The Mind Change Method - Heather McKean's Story

I’ve had to let go of many things in my life.  I moved to L.A. when I was 21 to pursue my acting career.  After experiencing the underbelly of the Hollywood acting scene, I gave up my dream of becoming an actress.  When we went into the ministry 16 years ago, I let go of a “dream job”  managing an upscale Dressage barn in Malibu and sold my beloved horses. 

When we moved to South Africa to do mission work, I let go of a house that I LOVED (along with everything in it).  We sold everything we owned and had our entire life in about 20 boxes. 

When we moved to Maui, I had to let go of working in the ministry, a job I had grown to love dearly.   These are only a few of the “things” I have let go of.  They seemed hard at the time, and I grieved for each one in my own way.  But the far more difficult things that I have had to give up have been my beliefs about WHO I AM. 

Though my childhood and familial experiences shaped me, they did not HAVE to define me!  Growing up with an abusive and addicted stepfather definitely impacted me, but I also let it define me.  I was an abused child.  I was the daughter of an addict.  I was a sexual abuse victim.  Even though those things had happened over 20+ years ago…..I was still carrying them like a badge of honor.  But actually, they were just shackles that were dragging behind me and weighing me down.  Had you asked me 7 years ago, if I had many happy memories of my childhood, I would have struggled to find any.  I had plenty of well-rehearsed BAD stories….but the good ones were few and far between. 

Learning Mind Change helped me see that once I LET GO of those old stories (realizing that my perception was really driving my beliefs)….only then was I able to look at my past through new eyes.  I knew this was possible, due to my knowledge and commitment to God.  But I still had to be willing to LET GO!!  See, when I had tried to cope with the various traumas of my past, my subconscious mind lovingly “blocked” entire periods of my childhood. 

When we feel the need to compartmentalize as a coping mechanism, we don’t get to choose what gets blocked!  When I stopped letting the “traumas” control me, I was finally able to unlock those rooms that had long been blocked for my safety.  The fear that “more bad” would emerge had always kept me from digging too deeply.  But, rather than “bad”, a barrage of good things began to surface.  What a blessing! 

Now, my story has changed!  I had a good childhood, filled with wonderful adventures.  Yes, there were some unfortunate things that occurred in my childhood.  But I see those very differently now.  They do not DEFINE me! 

What defines you?