Veronica Wise hasn’t had an easy ride, but she #Emerges Proud to tell us all about how she now sees her breakdown as a breakthrough; transforming her pain into a gift that now fuels her desire to help others:

Veronica says:

“There is an opposite force in all that happens in your life.

When you feel horrible about something, when you are down, when you feel like there is no hope….LOOK and you will find!

I would not be here right now…where I am…had I not been adopted, emotionally abused growing up, the poor kid at a rich kids high school, the youngest “kid” at my job who was being groomed for corporate greatness, the youngest mom and wife with the weight of the world on her shoulders during my twenties that eventually led to my breakdown and what I thought was my ultimate shame and demise. All on the heels of my sister passing.

That led into a decade of doctors and breakdowns and more shame.

Trying to rebuild what I once knew and held dear to my heart only to fail over and over and over.

My divorce and the shame of him sending me to jail after almost 18 years together. All on the heels of my mom passing.

The shame of not seeing my children.

Of being shamed into hiding and then ultimately trying to kill my self 3 times in 2015 after I lost the second of 2 pregnancies because I thought I had nothing left to give.

I lived in this state for so long than it became a part of me and I never thought I would see the light of day again.

The pain of being “alone” on this twisted journey was so much greater than me. I just thought I would do the rest of the world a favour because I was exhausted. I had given everything I had and told God:

“If this bullshit is all you have to offer me after I have shed blood, sweat and tears to not only improve the lives of everyone around me and then get pissed on in the end…I don’t want any parts of this anymore…F**K YOU”

But he did not let me go.

So I was left.

Left to think…to be angry with him for not taking the pain away. I would try to drink it away…read it away…work it away…waste my days away in retaliation for what “he’s” done to me.

As I was doing this…I came to see that all of my fighting and resistance only delayed my healing.

I knew that…but I fought anyway. Because I didn’t want to be the strong one anymore. I had been the strongest person I knew before 2005. And I lost her. She was my best friend and I lost her.

But looking back now….I never lost her. She is a little girl inside of me that never left.

She’s the little 4 year old who knew she was adopted…the oldest of 3 who has a mission and always did. To make the family I know exists out there but didn’t have the wherewithal to raise me know that I will be someone some day.

We all have a story. 

And I’m proud to say I’ve survived mine because I know it will help others too.”

We’re wishing Veronica well for her mission ahead! ❤

Phil Borges is a true legend of a human being. 

 For over twenty-five years he has been documenting indigenous and tribal cultures, striving to create an understanding of the challenges they face. His work is exhibited in museums and galleries worldwide and his award winning books, which have been published in four languages, include Tibetan Portrait; Enduring Spirit; Women Empowered and Tibet: Culture on the Edge.

Phil’s project Stirring the Fire has produced several short documentaries, a book and an exhibition highlighting some of the extraordinary women worldwide who are breaking through gender barriers and conventions in order to enhance the well being of their communities.

Phil’s Documentary, CRAZYWISE reveals a paradigm shift that’s changing the way Western culture defines and treats “mental illness”. The film highlights a survivor-led movement demanding more choices from a mental health care system in crisis.

I am delighted to be collaborating with Phil and the CRAZYWISE team for International #Emerging Proud day on 12th May 2017. Hear Phil talk about that and what propelled his personal passion for doing this work:

Phil has hosted television documentaries on indigenous cultures for Discovery and National Geographic channels. An experienced lecturer, Phil regularly presents at universities, teaches workshops, and has spoken at multiple TED events; including TED in 2007, TEDxRainier in 2012 and TEDxUMKC in 2013 and TEDxSan Juan Island in 2015.

To find out more information on community screenings or to sign up to the blog, go to:

www.crazywisefilm.com

Are you a musician, song- writer or poet ready to #Emergeproud through the expression of your art?

Would you like your masterpiece to feature worldwide and support the normalisation of spiritually transformative experiences?

I am seeking music to feature on the official #EmergingProud film, to be launched on 12th May 2017.To submit an entry please email a link with your song to: mendthegap@hotmail.com

Many of us also use the cathartic process of expressing through poetry and art when going through metamorphosis; if you’d like your work to feature in the official launch edition of the #Emerging Proud 2017 hard back book, then please email me: mendthegap@hotmail.com

A beautiful example of the wisdom that can be harnessed through awakening to the interconnected consciousness of life is this poem by Charlie Chaplin from his 70th year:

“As I began to love myself I found that anguish and emotional suffering
are only warning signs that I was living against my own truth.
Today, I know, this is “AUTHENTICITY”….”

Reminding us of the rebirth that can happen through chaos:

“We no longer need to fear arguments, confrontations or any kind of problems
with ourselves or others. Even stars collide, and out of their crashing
new worlds are born.Today I know THAT IS “LIFE”!”

I look forward to sharing your soulful expressions with the world…

With love,

Katie ❤

Sean Blackwell admits that he is no shrinking violet; having bravely and patiently spoken out about his own ‘psychotic’ experiences that were labelled ‘b-polar disorder’ for the last 10 years and helping hundreds of people internationally to view their experiences in a more empowering framework than the medical paradigm offers, Sean talks about his excitement at feeling like 2017 is going to see a big shift.

#Emerging Proud day on 12th May 2017 is officially going international!

Sean and his wife Ligia, a Psychologist based in Brazil, will lead an event based around this theme in Sao Paolo, feeding back action points raised from the day to a central hub along with five other countries who will simultaneously host #Emerging Proud events in order to make sure that we have a trans- cultural and global impact. (More news on that coming very soon!)

Over to you Sean:

To find out more about Sean’s work go to:  http://www.bipolarawakenings.com