The Results are in and Your
CYCLE-BREAKING Super Power is:
Advocacy
You are a doer, a go-getter, a MAKE THINGS HAPPEN kind of person. Achieving is important to you, including working towards a healthier family. You know how to speak up—and can use your voice and influence to set boundaries, protect others, and redefine relationships in your family.
But constantly staying on your A-game has left you exhausted. You are tired of trying to earn approval and performing to prove your worth. “Trying hard enough” hasn’t healed your family as much as you would have hoped, and you aren’t sure you have much left to give. You’re ready to stop working harder and, instead, start working smarter…
“It’s time to give a voice to all the stories you hold—a voice that both can recognize all you’ve been through and is also committed to speaking hope over your future. It is possible for your legacy to pass on to the next generation with less pain than the one you inherited.”
— Kristen Hallinan, Legacy Changer
How did You develop the superpower of advocacy?
IN your family, you played the role of:
The RESPONSIBLE ONE
You often felt that if something was going to get done, you were going to have to do it yourself. Oftentimes, you are willing to say the hard truths that no one else is brave enough to say. You didn’t feel confident you could rely on others, so you learned to rely on yourself. You’ve often thought, maybe if you could just achieve enough, you could redeem the pain you carry, or you could prove you are worth sticking around for…
If we were sitting down for coffee, I would tell you…
Shame is a sneaky liar—and you are a beloved child of God.
If you could hold up a mirror and see yourself the way God sees you, you would see his special possession—his beloved child that he created on purpose. Your worth isn’t found on the trophies on your shelf, degrees on your wall, or the next promotion at work. You were created by God—and only he gets to define who you are.
You are not defined by your past.
The best is yet to come for you and your family. In using your voice to advocate for yourself and your loved ones, you have the power to break unhealthy generational cycles that have continued on for far too long. Your grit and tenacity are going to change the legacy you pass down to the next generation.
You don’t have to wear every cape.
Take a deep breath, and exhale out all of the demands you place on yourself. No matter what messages the world and your family are sending you, you don’t have to keep piling more onto your plate. Focus on what heals your heart, gives you life, and walks you closer to what God has called you to do.
Before we get too far into this…
MEET THE AUTHOR:
I’M KRISTEN HALLINAN
I’m the girl who came from a chaotic childhood, but you’d never know it because I was so put together on the outside. For too long, I thought I could breeze past my past, using my hard work ethic and quick wit to force a perfect future into fruition. As it turns out, that’s not exactly how it works.
As a wife and mom of four strong-willed, joy-filled kids, I found myself reacting out of pain from the past all too often. These behaviors scared me, and I knew it was time to do something about it.
I’ve spent the last five years healing from wounds of my past, rediscovering my story, figuring out who God says I am, and putting new practices into place so I can pass a changed, healthier legacy onto my children.
The legacy we inherit doesn’t have to be the legacy we pass on. It is possible to break the cycle, and God wants to redeem your story.
Today, I help Legacy Changers heal their hurts, let God redeem their story, and create hope for their families.
LEgacy Changer
Heal the Hurt, Redeem Your Story, Create Hope for Your Family
Do you feel stuck in cycles of brokenness? Many of us unknowingly repeat the mistakes of our parents and grandparents, passing on pain and suffering to the next generation. No matter what has happened in the past or what mess you might be in today, you are not destined to carry on your family’s wounds, unhealthy behaviors, or toxic relationships. It doesn’t have to be this way. Your legacy can be different and the change starts with you.
***Legacy Changer releases 02.20.24
YOUR NEXT STEPS
Write down a recent failure and reframe it as a lesson.
Identify an area where you typically swoop in and rescue your family. How can you return the responsibility to the rightful owner and lessen your burden?
Be on the lookout for an email soon with more about what ADVOCACY looks like when you are healing from the past and creating a new, healthier legacy.
CHILDHOOD NEEDS
Did you know every child has 13 needs that should be met by their parents or caregivers? Very Few of us have every need met, AND unmet needs have an impact.
“Legacies passed down from generation to generation consist of both what took place in a family as well as what didn’t.”
- Kristen Hallinan, Legacy Changer
As THE RESPONSIBLE ONE,
The needs that may not have been met in your childhood include:
Connection—A constant pursuit of trophies is often a way of chasing connection. If I impress them enough, maybe I can earn a richer relationship.
Holy Identity—Searching for identity in achievement clouds our ability to know who we are in Christ. Parents should hold up a mirror of God-given identity to their children.
Celebration—Staying on the achievement train often means there is an implication that what you’ve done is never enough. It is important to take the time to appreciate and celebrate each family member for their hard work and milestones.
Interested in learning more?
Legacy Changer will help you to:
Understand the brain and body science of emotional wounds
Heal from generational pain
Rediscover your story
Set boundaries in your relationships—the way Jesus did.
Create hope for your family
