Day 6 — My Challenges

Summary

The author describes overcoming personal challenges, including accepting a stepmother and dealing with parental depression and academic struggles, by finding solace in writing poetry and music.

Abstract

The author recounts the significant challenges faced after the death of their mother and their father's subsequent remarriage to a stepmother with a strong, authoritarian personality. This contrasted with the author's introverted nature and their father's authoritative parenting style, leading to a period of depression and a decline in school performance. The author discovered an outlet through writing poetry and engaging with music, which served as a form of catharsis and a means to self-regulate emotions. This creative process allowed them to confront difficult situations, including conflicts with their stepmother, and ultimately helped them to survive and reflect during this tumultuous period.

Opinions

The author views their stepmother's authoritarian parenting style as challenging, especially in contrast to their own personality and their father's approach.
Writing poetry and listening to music are seen as therapeutic activities that provided the author with an emotional outlet during a time of personal struggle.
The author believes that journaling about self-reflection was instrumental in surviving the emotional turmoil and learning to manage their reactions to difficult situations.
There is a sense of resilience and growth, as the author learned to confront challenges and regulate their emotions through the act of writing.

How did I overcome my challenges?

I have faced many challenges in my life; My greatest challenge was accepting my stepmother when my dad got married after my mother’s death. I was a teenager who was struggling with her own identity without the guidance and love of her mother. My dad was also going through depression, so I had to deal with my changing hormones without the support of my parents. My grades at school also dropped because I had difficulty focusing in class.

My stepmom seemed very nice at first but she had a very strong personality who believed in an authoritarian parenting style. I was a strong-willed child myself who liked challenging authorities. On the other hand, my dad had a an authoritative parenting style which was against my stepmother’s rules.

My stepmother liked to do everything her way. I went through depression which I did not know at that moment. I lost my mom and then, I lost my dad’s connection due to his second marriage. I was and still am an introvert; I am not good at communicating with others. I struggled because I could not express how I felt.

I found my escape in writing poetry and singing and listening to songs. I used to lock myself up in my room and used to listen to songs. I had no other way so writing was my catharsis at that time and that is how I overcame my challenge. After I started writing, I learned to confront my stepmom. She used to throw away dishes and food when she was aggravated. I don't even want to recall what I have been through. I learned to self-regulate my emotions through writing. I wrote about my feelings and emotions; I focused on the triggers and my reactions and that is how I survived during those days by journaling about self-reflection.

Thank you for reading my sixth journal entry for self-reflection. If you decide to join me in the challenge, do not forget to tag me so I can also read your journal.