When We Get Whomped and Want to Burn It All Down

The Friday Edition | No. 55

When We Get Whomped and Want to Burn It All Down

Many of you know this feeling of opening up – maybe just a little, maybe just enough to let someone in – and then, whomp. Some idiot steamrolls you with their projections, their ego, their absolute inability to see you clearly. And suddenly, you’re right there, in a raging fire.

Recently, I experienced an incident with someone and was left feeling smashed to pieces, and then totally enraged. Ready to fight and mete out justice. I was triggered and feeling overwhelmed with emotions and a nervous system on rage patrol.

The urge to lash out, to rip them apart with my words (or worse), to make them see what they did, and defend myself, felt real and warranted. But in the end, I could see that this kind of reaction wasn’t just about them. It’s about every single time someone took advantage of my openness and vulnerability. Every time I was gaslit, dismissed, preyed upon, betrayed, or bulldozed. Every time I wasn’t allowed to say, NO! You don’t get to twist my reality, you don’t get to rewrite who I am or diminish me for your own gains. Not this time. Not ever again!