Growing up in a cult was a dark experience.  It left me with a plethora of negative emotions: anger, fear, hate, pain, etc.  For many years, in essence, I was stumbling in the darkness.  That leads us to the following question: how can one use negative feelings to create a positive outcome?  It might not be as hard as you think.

First, I want to point out, that these negative experiences that we all go through, in one form or another, are not necessarily “bad” in themselves. Yes, they can cause us pain and heartache, but we can turn negative experiences into positive outcomes.  Here’s how:

1. Faith: You need to have faith that the negative experiences in your life are temporary.  Knowing that “this too shall pass,” is the first step in letting go of negative feelings.

2.  Trust: You have to put your trust in someone or something.  For me, God is an essential part of this process.  I place trust in a higher purpose, knowing that in the end, something positive will grow out of the darkness of my past.

3. Love: If we love someone, we share, right?  Sharing your negative experiences is very powerful.  Whether you were the victim of a cult, in an abusive relationship, or struggle with an addictive behavior, sharing your story can bring profound changes.  Sometimes sharing your story can seem overwhelming.  That’s where intentional writing comes into play.

4.  Write:  Write it down.  Write about the hardships, the hurt, the pain.  It’s okay to let anger and fear come out in words on the page.  It’s all part of a healthy process in coming to terms with the darkness of your past and replacing it with something positive.