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7 Life lessons I learned working at a max security prison
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Speaking with men who have life sentences and nothing to lose
Shifts your perspective on life so quickly, you don't even realize it
Shifts your perspective on life so quickly, you don't even realize it
1. Adversity promotes growth
You learn how to adapt quickly in a dangerous environment if you want to survive
You learn how to adapt quickly in a dangerous environment if you want to survive
You find meaning in life when confronted with a hopeless situation
When you can't change your situation
You learn to change yourself
When you can't change your situation
You learn to change yourself
2. You learn what you truly value
You remove your toxic values and replace with positive values that align with your true self
You remove your toxic values and replace with positive values that align with your true self
Identify which of your values you weren’t honoring and how not living up to them created this terrible situation
3. You are the only person who can save you
Even if you join a gang or group
You are still subject to manipulation and betrayal
Even if you join a gang or group
You are still subject to manipulation and betrayal
Your judgements and intelligence are what will save you
Take responsibility for your situation
Take responsibility for your situation
4. Boundaries, boundaries, boundaries
Weakness shown in prison will get you taken advantage of
Weakness shown in prison will get you taken advantage of
You have to stand up for yourself in the face of altercations
Or you'll continually be subject to "being punked"
Live your truth and learn to tolerate little disrespect
Or you'll continually be subject to "being punked"
Live your truth and learn to tolerate little disrespect
5. The true prisons aren't made of concrete and steel
They're the ones created in your own mind
They're the ones created in your own mind
Fear, anger, negativity, low self-esteem, over-thinking, self-doubt, procrastination, guilt, shame, and addiction
Can control your life if you let them
Can control your life if you let them
6. Don't judge a book by its cover
Just because they commit crimes
Prisoners are creative and have a different level of intelligence
Just because they commit crimes
Prisoners are creative and have a different level of intelligence
I've seen them create cellphones from calculators
Shanks from toilet paper
And stoves out of their desks
Shanks from toilet paper
And stoves out of their desks
7. Above all, regret is a bitch
Never take your freedom or privileges for granted
You never realize how good you have it until they're gone
Never take your freedom or privileges for granted
You never realize how good you have it until they're gone
