Dr Oz: Elizabeth Smart My Story Review & Finding Gratitude

Dr Oz: Elizabeth Smart My Story Review

Elizabeth Smart’s kidnapping over ten years ago made national headlines when the teenager was abducted from the bedroom where she slept in her family’s home, but there was a happy ending to the story when she was reunited with her family nine months after she was taken. Elizabeth sat down with Dr. Oz to talk about what she did to survive being held captive and how she hopes to help others get through their own personal challenges.

Dr Oz: Elizabeth Smart on Finding Gratitude

Elizabeth Smart, author of My Story, told Dr. Oz she managed to find gratitude while being held captive because she kept reminding herself that while her situation was horrifying, it could have gotten worse at any moment. Even during her darkest moments she says she always found things to be grateful for, like being alive or having food and water on any particular day because she often was not sure when (or if) she was going to be fed. Her biggest hope, though, is to help others going through their own trials in life to believe that things can get better no matter how hard it may seem at the time.

Dr Oz: Elizabeth Smart “Punished” Her Kidnapper by Being Happy

Elizabeth Smart says something her mother said to her almost immediately after she was rescued has stuck with her and helped her to move on with her life. Her mother told her that while the man who held her captive was wicked and evil, there is no bigger punishment you can give him than to be happy. Regardless of the outcome of his trial and whether or not she believed justice was served, Elizabeth’s mom encouraged her to be happy because eventually she would get back all that was taken from her while she was being held captive.

Her family’s strong faith in God is also something that gives her strength, as she believes the people who caused her harm will have to answer to Him at some point. Elizabeth firmly believes the man who held her against her will does not deserve any more of her energy because that allows him to keep control of her life, which is something she will not allow anymore.

Dr Oz: Elizabeth Smart on Darkest Moments in Captivity

Elizabeth told Dr. Oz there were many dark moments after her kidnapping, but the worst were the morning after she was abducted when she was with a strange woman who made her change clothes and told her she was now “married” to the man who had just violated her. If was after those dark moments, though, that Elizabeth Smart realized she was not ruined and that her life could still go on because her family would continue to love her not matter what, which is how she found the strength to survive.