The ACEs have it - a need for Resilience that is!
Okay, I’m admitting it, I’m an ACEs kid. And thanks to the resilience building practice of Gratitude Journaling, I’m now thriving and passionate about helping others do the same!
What’s an ACEs kid? It’s one born into a household where Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) put them at higher risks of developing physical, mental, and emotional problems that lead to long-term health consequences and prevent them from living their best life.
ACEs kids face a range of challenges that include, but are not limited to:
· emotional, physical, or sexual abuse
· emotional or physical neglect
· living in a home with exposure to mental illness or substance use
· having an incarcerated family member
· being separated from a parent due to divorce or death
· witnessing violence/abuse of any kind
· living in poverty
According to a 2021 Centers for Disease Control (CDC) survey, 64% of U.S. adults reported they had experienced at least one type of ACE before age 18, and nearly 1 in 6 (17.3%) reported they had experienced four or more types of ACEs.
But I don’t need CDC statistics to point out that approximately two out of every three individuals could benefit from resilience-building strategies that work. All I need to do is look around me at family, friends, and acquaintances.
ACEs kids struggle to survive, let alone thrive in a system with the odds stacked against them. For years, I was one of those kids. Having to grow up too fast in a household run by a single mother sent me down some nightmarish rabbit holes that caused me to be a late bloomer when it came to setting and accomplishing meaningful goals. Not growing up with my father impacted my ability to form healthy relationships with men.
But now that I’m ok with the label, which doesn’t define me but instead shed some light on why my life unfolded the way it has. And I’m happy to share a few ways that Gratitude Journaling helps build resilience and puts you on the road to reaching your potential. Here are a few:
Gratitude Journaling:
Is a visual reminder of how blessed you are, despite the circumstances surrounding your birth
Increases self-awareness and a deeper understanding of your values and what truly matters
Shifts your focus from negatives to positives
Puts problems and challenges in perspective so that you begin to see them as temporary and solvable, rather than all-consuming
Allows you to see patterns of your thoughts and actions and how they shape the substance of your life and prepares you to make bigger decisions during difficult times
Implementing working strategies that address ACEs could potentially reduce many physical and mental health conditions, as well as reduce the economic burden of homelessness and incarcerations. While Gratitude Journaling is no quick fix, it’s a strategy that works. I proudly wear my ACEs battle scars and I am living proof that when you count your blessings, you come to realize that you have everything you need to weather any storm, to turn your pain into power.
If you’re not an ACES kid, consider yourself fortunate and please share this information with someone you know. And keep in mind that we can all benefit from building resilience to get through life’s challenges that sometimes show up when we least expect it.
If you want to learn more about the power of Gratitude, contact me at smallchange@myrtlerussell.com.
Catch up on the ABCs of Gratitude at https://myrtlerussell.com/blog.
Tomorrow is the last day to learn more about my 15 gifts of Gratitude Journaling and the blessons that have impacted my life in more ways than I can count. Here's the link if you are interested in learning more: https://phylliscoledai.substack.com/p/1498c09a-9e30-4700-9f65-e0b8553c7f1e.
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