The world is peopled by victims; everyone has a story. However, victimhood is just the beginning of the story. This book is about the endings of at least some of those stories, the stories of victims who strive to overcome and even triumph in the end. This book is a collection of research perspectives and personal stories exploring the various pathways for overcoming victimhood. It is hoped that they might offer an inspiration for others and encourage others to stay on the path to find a positive ending. Victim Victorious is an examination of the ways in which victims come to rise above the challenges that they face. Victims may be innocent bystanders, and in no way responsible for their victimhood. Nonetheless, they can -- and indeed we argue need to -- take responsibility for finding a personal solution. To assist in this task, this book chronicles the pathway of prejudice and how the pain and the damage experienced by individual victims may be overcome by effort, by and on their own behalf. The first half of the book features outsider views of victimhood. A range of professionals, philosophers, psychologists, criminologists and critical theorists offer their thoughts on how people might overcome victimhood. The second half of the book features insider views of victimhood; in this section, the victims speak for themselves about their experience and how they have endeavoured to break through their victimhood. This book is less about identifying and proscribing the behaviours of perpetrators and more about the efforts that victims can undertake to heal themselves as they journey towards resilience and victory.
It’s Time to Live a Victorious Life This book is about victory. You can win right now. The choice is yours. Overcoming obstacles from sexual abuse to social injustices, Cynthia Garrett rose to influence in Hollywood. Yet it wasn’t until she realized what the war against victimization is really about that she found the freedom, victory, and peace she sought. She wants you to experience it, too. Through faith and personal examples, Garrett shows you how to confront the victim mindset, quit playing the blame game, defeat fear, and address pride and power. You’ll learn how to navigate the war zones—personal, spiritual, and political—of daily life. In the midst of all life throws at you, there are two constants: God’s unconditional love and the ability it gives you to live a victorious life. I Choose Victory will: challenge your thought patterns; encourage spiritual and personal growth; and equip you to win.
Washed Away: From Darkness to Light is a memoir that recounts the experiences of model Nikki DuBose as she overcomes a more than seventeen-year battle with abuse, child sexual victimization, eating disorders, psychosis, alcoholism, drugs, depression, suicide attempts, body dysmorphic disorder, and various other mental health issues, all while trying to navigate through the dark side of the fashion industry. Her journey began as a young, introverted child with a florid imagination growing up in Charleston, South Carolina. By the age of eight she had been sexually, physically, and emotionally abused and had developed an eating disorder. The abuse warped Nikki's self-perception and sparked patterns of psychosis, depression and destructive behavior that stayed with her into adulthood. In her early twenties she began working as a television host and started a career in modeling. Eventually Nikki attained success, appearing on the covers of magazines such as Maxim, shooting for editorials like Vanity Fair, Glamour and FHM, and appearing in campaigns for Perry Ellis. Cast into a world of excess, superficiality, and vanity, Nikki traveled the globe and experienced the finest that the material world had to offer, all while feeling empty inside. Her disorders, addictions and mental health issues took her to the brink of mortality and only though a deeply painful inner-battle and her mother's death was she able to reconnect the lost pieces of her soul and see the person she had so long rejected. Her recovery from a nearly lifelong struggle with PTSD, psychosis, addictions and eating disorders has left Nikki with a passionate longing to help others who are also suffering by advocating for mental health and self-acceptance. In America, more than sixty-one million individuals are affected by mental illness. Child sexual abuse affects more than forty-five million people in the United States alone, yet it is still regarded as one of the most shameful issues to date. Eating disorders affect millions and are one of the most destructive and life-threatening mental afflictions today – anorexia nervosa has the highest mortality rate of any psychological illness. Despite the extent of the suffering, eating disorders and mental health issues are poorly understood in popular culture and are often stigmatized, mocked, or even glorified because of misconceptions and ignorance over the seriousness of the manner. Although the modeling industry has made strides towards body diversity in the past couple of years, there is a lack of education and awareness surrounding eating disorders and other mental health issues. We believe that through the recent societal trends and improved sharing of information, we are beginning to break this paradigm, therefore another aim of this book will be to educate the public. Washed Away: From Darkness to Light will serve as a testimony to others to let them know that they are not alone in their fears, doubts, and frustrations, and that through recovery all things are possible. “A compelling and educational read about the dark side of the fashion business and its effect on mental health. Nikki draws upon her experiences of overcoming a life-threatening eating disorder as she navigates through the industry, all while wrestling with a broken home life and struggling to discover her inner voice. Nikki’s story is truly remarkable and will serve as a beacon to anyone who has ever doubted their own intrinsic value. I highly recommend Washed Away: From Darkness to Light.” —Brian Cuban, Attorney, Author (Shattered Image: My Triumph Over Body Dysmorphic Disorder), Activist “I was truly amazed by her determination to live life. I saw a woman that had every reason to quit and remain silent, but she chose to break through every obstacle that challenged her. I am very grateful that she has taken on the challenge to not only speak about her experience, but to fight for change in laws that will empower children and survivors to protect themselves. We all need to learn from Nikki and use our voices to create positive change. It is no longer okay for the silence to outweigh the tough discussion. Ignorance will not stop child sex predators from harming our children.” —Matthew Sandusky, Founder & Executive Director of Peaceful Hearts Foundation, Author (Undaunted: Breaking My Silence to Overcome the Trauma of Child Sexual Abuse), Speaker “To endure what DuBose has within her first decade proves more than most could handle in a lifetime, yet she looks back at her life with grace and a rare honesty. As she takes us through the overly sexualized fashion industry as an international top model, she gives the no-holds barred account on mental illness, rape, and eating disorders that our society so desperately needs.” —Neesha Arter, Journalist & Author (Controlled) “Washed Away: From Darkness to Light is an incredible story of one brave woman’s perseverance in the face of daunting life circumstances. Nikki DuBose details her chilling experiences with an eating disorder, childhood sexual abuse, alcoholism and drug abuse - and how she found the strength to rise above and find recovery. This powerful read will inspire those in their own recovery journeys.” —Kristina Saffran, Co-Founder and Co-Executive Director at Project HEAL
n this world of sin, we all struggle with security, fear, acceptance, and joy. We are all subject to potential physical, situational or emotional harm from others. It’s a competitive world. Peaceful and loving homes with godly parents who love each other are rare. The home has become a place for the greatest harm. Everyone has to survive somehow. Some have good jobs and money, some do not. Some get all the breaks in life, and some come up short. Some succeed and some fail. Some are accepted, and some are rejected. Do you view yourself as a victim? Do you see yourself as deserving special treatment because of your victim status? On the other hand, do you see yourself as victorious? What does it mean to be victorious? And how does one obtain victory, especially when he already sees himself as the victim of those who are stronger? Are you your greatest enemy? Are you a victim of your own view of yourself? Is a victim status a choice? Is victory a choice? Jesus said the truth would set us free. Learn to seek victorious freedom through Jesus Christ.
How do you find your way to healing after hurting for so many years? Let Me Fix My Crown tells the story of how a young woman learns the process to healing by first figuring out where her pain originated. At the age of twelve, I was betrayed by someone dear to me. As a teenager, I submerged myself in a dysfunctional relationship that leads to teen pregnancy and low self-esteem. It wasn't until after a failed suicide attempt and realizing that my best friend was my soul mate did I realize that it was time to fix my crown. Along the way, I learned that three key components of my healing were faith, grace, and forgiveness. In this book, I share the relevance of these three components with you.
Victors & Victims unveils the truth that people who find success and joy in life are those who know who they are and give it, versus those who know what they want and take it. Success in life comes in many different forms. Profitable careers and businesses come to mind, but what about happy marriages, well-raised kids, loyal friendships? Success, no matter what its form, has the same foundations. Mastering them means mastering life. We all have different core passions. Some cry for freedom, some for security; some dwell on the past and some on the future. Our core passions dictate how we communicate and what messages and beliefs we listen to and follow. When you understand your own core passions as well as those of the people around you, you can communicate successfully and form powerful relationships filled with joy and promise. And how you understand yourself, God, and your passions will determine whether you live your life as a victim (always wanting and taking more), or a victor (joyously giving more, thus receiving more). In this book, Ken Harrison draws from his powerful experiences fighting violent criminals as a police officer in Los Angeles, running and selling international companies, and his 24-year marriage to his high school sweetheart in order to give the keys to turning ambition into success.
Set in a South East suburb of Melbourne, Australia in the early 80's, Victim or Victorious is the inspiring autobiographical story of a little girl's survival, rehabilitation and fight to once again be accepted in mainstream school following a near fatal accident. This book is for sick and injured patients, parents and families of children in hospital, hospital staff, bullies, the bullied and the general community.
If your influence only lasts as long as you do, you failed. This book will help you reach your full potential, inspire greatness in your spouse, children, and friends, and leave a legacy that lasts beyond your lifetime. True influence should increase through the lives of those you have poured into, even after you pass away. Our greatest example of this is Jesus. His followers did greater works after He left them. Jesus never wrote a book or traveled outside of Israel, but He was able to use a band of eleven followers to create the largest, most influential movement the world has ever seen. Jesus had no servants, yet they called Him Master. He had no degree, yet they called Him Teacher. He had no medicines, yet they called Him Healer. He had no army, yet kings feared Him. He won no military battles, yet He conquered the world. He committed no crime, yet they crucified Him. He was buried in a tomb, yet He lives today. In The Jesus Principles, Joseph Mattera helps you unleash greatness in yourself, but even more importantly, in your circle of influence—your spouse, children, friends, and family. Following Jesus’ example, you will be empowered to leave a legacy of helping others fulfill their own potential so that after you have passed, you are still speaking! Become part of a great cloud of witnesses who help to unleash human potential in one another. The four Gospels are not only compilations of important moral and spiritual sayings, but they also contain principles that can enable us to move from potential to fulfillment of purpose.
Learning to live victoriously happens one choice at a time. This devotional will guide you through seventy days of step by step victorious living, regardless of your circumstances. With personal stories that will take you around the world, from poverty to wealth, trauma to blessed connection, Samantha Means will guide you in living from victory rather than toward victory.You will:Learn about your identity as a child of God in Jesus Christ.Experience the power and sufficiency of the Holy Spirit in you.Explore the goodness and grace of God.Understand that victory is as much a mindset as it is a way of life.One day at a time, one question, application, and Bible verse at a time, Samantha Means will assist you on your journey while sharing her own testimonies to bring you encouragement, inspiration and hope.You are not alone, and victory is here.
