‘My dad left us when I was I very young and coming to terms with this made me feel really down. As a consequence, I found myself living to please people, hoping that would make them love me, but I was always left rejected and disappointed.

My emptiness led me to many short-term relationships. Between the ages of 18 and 20, I was in two abusive relationships. One of the worst moments was when I was strangled on my own living room floor, but, despite this, I still stayed because I thought, “This is the only love I can get”. But, one day, a friend introduced me to the Universal. I attended the meetings regularly because I found something different there. I decided to apply everything I was learning – things such as rejecting every negative thought that came to my mind and fighting my doubts. My main doubts were about if I was good enough.

But the meetings I attended helped me to overcome my past through the power of faith and the people that I met there were amazing. It was good to know that I wasn’t alone and there were people who had gone through similar things to me and had overcome them.

Not everything was easy. While trying to turn my life around, I faced many doubts. I would think things such as: “Is my
life ever going to change?” “Am I really going to make it?” But then I was invited to take part in the Challenge of Faith. Through this challenge, I was able to find a strength inside me that I never knew existed.

That power allowed me to finally overcome my past traumas, insecurities and weak mindset. I no longer feel the immense void inside. Today, I’m happy and I love myself!’

Shanami Brown