I remembered an incident that happened quite some time back in my life. When it came to my mind I thought I may not be the only one who is endlessly thankful for someone who puts their ego aside and only helps us heal the wounds which still affect our lives at times.
Throughout our lives, we experience countless situations, actions of others, statements, compliments, and critics that we take over and form an image of ourselves from them. Or we get treated in a way that simply hurts. The more we hear or experience the same message the more it gets rooted within us in both constructive and destructive ways. The younger we are the more unconsciously it happens.
Many years may have passed and the persons or circumstances which left scars are not influencing your life anymore. You changed a lot about the way you think about yourself, about life, and about the world. Perhaps that particular person is not even part of your life anymore. You seem to be over it. Meanwhile, you live a different life and you are surrounded by different people. Wonderful people who want nothing more than to see you happy. Then one of those wonderful people does something objectively insignificant but…. it may be a keyword or a key action that reflexively opens a long locked folder in your mind and the feeling you thought you were over seizes you instantly. You cannot do anything about it. All of a sudden you feel like being thrown back in time and you experience the same scene again. That one person can be the loveliest being you ever met and is not even slightly like the one(s) you used to know. But one tiny thing can open up a can of worms.
You are hurt! All the feelings from the past are coming up again and you realize that you were not over them at all. But at that moment you don’t even notice. You only see red lights and the pain has full control over you. You may react hypersensitively, start defending yourself, pull back, and blame the other one for your pain, perhaps being offending and unfair. You react like an injured animal. But you don’t realize it in that very moment but feel misunderstood or again mistreated because you are feeling that pain so heavily.
Now, how does the other person react? Do they feel offended or hurt? Are they getting angry, and offensive themselves? Do they try to understand you? Do they even make an effort to see the situation through your eyes? Their reaction is very important at that moment. Not because it is their fault but because that way you can see the difference (or not) to the former situation(s) you were used to.
When they react differently the mind gets irritated. Because the data it had stored don’t fit the situation anymore. Nothing makes sense anymore and the system needs a break to restart. That is THE moment when you get calm and realize that this is not your past anymore. This is the wonderful present you already live in because of the changes you already made. There was still something stuck in a corner. Due to what that one person triggered unintentionally and because of their compassionate reaction after, you were able to let go and free yourself a bit more from a past that unconsciously still kept you under its sway.
Some things are rooted so deeply that only when we encounter a similar situation again do we remember or notice that they are still there because our wounds start bleeding again. It has nothing to do with the person in front of you but things you notice can simply open that drawer where the hidden pain is waiting to show up again. Although that person in front of you would never treat you the way others did, you feel the same emotions again.
When you realize that you wronged them you are sorry that you reacted that way. Yes, of course, apologize because you don’t want to be the same way as others were towards you. But be patient with yourself. Be aware of the fact that you were the victim of your mind’s storage room. Now you can see that what was does not exist anymore and will never come back unless you keep it alive. Instead of feeling bad now feel gratitude for the gift of a wonderful person who was sent to help you with love for working it out. It was all meant to be! Simply remember when it is your turn to be that “other person”.
Now to all those “other persons”: Thank you for stepping back, for not being hurt or feeling offended. Thank you for seeing through us and walking that valley together with us. Thank you for making the effort to understand what we feel. Thank you for helping that way that we could pull out a rusty knife that still polluted our wonderful lives without us realizing it.Thank you for your patience and for your understanding.
Thank you for the gift of your unconditional love!
In Love and Light
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Some issues are buried so deep and then triggered unexpectedly. Strong and inspiring post, Erika!
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Unexpectedly, that is exactly it. Perhaps it is also the shock moment when feeling these old feelings again that weighs a bit more at that moment. But when love is catching the fall healing is happening! Thank you, Sylvester!
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You’re welcome! Unexpected and shock when old feelings rise up, but like you said, how we handle it tells how much we have changed since the situation first occurred. Love is healing! Great post, Erika!
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Yes, exactly. That is how I think about it. And for sure, love is THE healing power. Thank you so much 😊
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You’re welcome and keep serving up that great inspiration 😊
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Wow! So true, Erika. If I told you the number of times I’ve been hurt in my life, I’d probably be a billionaire by now! Lol. It creeps up on me from time to time but…I just think about the people who really have my back and are always there through good or bad times. One day I’ll write about it but I’m not ready yet. I don’t know if Word Press is even ready for it! LOL.
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When you are ready, WordPress will be ready. I know what you mean. Some things have to get done and all of a sudden the big breakthrough happens. A moment you cannot help it but to share. I hope that soon this moment comes for you in order to be freed from the ghosts of the past, dear Lisa!
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It’s going to be awhile! I’ve forgiven but I’ll never forget. It’s coming one day though.
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I don’t even think we should forget (which is not possible in my opinion). The healing takes places when we don’t identify with it anymore but see it as something that happened in the past but helped us (due to working it out) to develop into the person we are today!
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I think I’m healed from it for the most part but writing about it is a different story.
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That is right. That is another big step if not the most important!
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I think what scares me is the content and family who reads it.
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Ah, I see! I totally understand that point! Yes, that way you feel like making yourself vulnerable again. I was cautious in the beginning too. But then wrote and published “I’m Free” anyway…. It caused me some stomach ache but then again nobody ever questioned or criticized me. But I totally understand your feelings!
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Oh wow! That was super brave of you! How did your loved ones react? My mom knows what happened, so do a couple of others, a couple of trusted friends and my boyfriend. I was thinking of writing it for Women’s Month in March but I wasn’t ready.
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I simply was time for me. I had my breakthrough and promised myself to never hide anymore. First of all, my sisters were surprised about the condition of my marriage and many people said they would have never thought that I was so full of fears and self-doubts….. it was all payed to fit in…. what a fight at times. I only talked about my feelings and how I conquered fear and self-doubts. I did not talk about the people who made me fearful. The reason is that I am not mad. I am even thankful because it made me grow and understand. But yes, it was a funny feeling to get this information published. Also in my posts I have no problems to confess my “failure”. Take your time. When the time is right, you feel it clearly 😉
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I see. Maybe when I’m a little bit older, I’ll be ready. I’m not mad anymore but I’ve gotten nightmares in the past. It’s coming in time though. 😉 My goal is to hopefully educate others not to be afraid to speak up. I don’t want others to have my fears and not say anything to anyone until decades later.
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Awesome… and that is one of the results: you understand others, you are an example that it is possible to overcome it, and you can motivate and encourage. The most compassionate people mostly went through the toughest challenges!
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Beautifully written, Erika, and a piece worth thinking about it. For the reasons stated here, this is why I avoid most of my family. I have learned I have a right to have who I want in my Life, even when it comes to “blood family”. I deserve happiness in a Life that has been wrought with pain. Thank you for this post. ❤
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There is nothing I need to add. I agree completely. Family doesn’t mean that we have to stick together. I think the same way! It is about kindred spirits and souls we love…. not about biological connections!
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I enjoy your articles and your words of inspiration. As a Woman who has endured rape, domestic violence & sexual assault when I was much younger it would be great if the triggers that cause my panic attacks and anxiety were no longer there but it is just something I have to live with.
After many years of church, meditation, various therapists, hospitals and positive affirmative the wounds are still as fresh as if the attacks happened yesterday. Actually church made things much worse since one of my attackers is a minister. I cannot and will never be able to completely trust men and it has been my personal decision to remain single and avoid relationships as much as possible.
Pretty much I think when certain things happen to you at a young age or traumatic assaults which strip you or your dignity you are forever change but not always in a good way. People have told me over the years to forget, forgive and the famous Get Over it but even though it may look like I have I will never Get Over it. This article I found on Medium sums it up best.
View at Medium.com
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I know exactly what you mean. The root has been planted and it spread. It is so easy to say Get Over It. But even if you want it can be a lifelong challenge to get there. Then again, each trigger may be a possibility to let a bit of it go. I have not been through what you have been through and I cannot even imagine what this means to a girl or young woman. I feel a lot when thinking about it but the trauma for sure is something that cannot be explained. I so hope that you find that place (which can be person) that provides everything for you to feel free of letting go a huge part of your burden. I pray for this and I send you the biggest hug 💖 You are such a wonderful soul and I know how much you take care of your brother. You are amazing and you deserve the best, dear friend 💖
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Very well said Erika. I am reminded of a quote (in the context of difficult personal situations and events)”
“Those who matter won’t mind… and those who mind won’t matter.”
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I love that quote! It is as simple as it is profound. Thank you for mentioning it, Colin.
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Those painful issues can arise if we have never been able to truly heal. Many of us were too young or naïve to understand them at the time. It takes a special person to understand those triggers, and not take the reaction personally. Communicating the issue is helpful for everyone, right after identifying it ! 💘
Very thoughtful piece, Erika, we all can relate. Have a great week.
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It is most wonderful how you described this, Van. I think that very often the reason is that we were taught to stay strong and that crying or being sad is a sign of weakness. Or when we are not allowed to have a voice. That is when things get burried but are still alive in the background. A sould that doesn’t take it personally but sees the pain of the other one is the greatest blessing! Thank you so much, Van!
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💘
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💖💖
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Enjoyable read. Amazing
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Thank you very much. That means a lot to me 😊
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It’s so easy to have these conditioned responses and no matter how clued up we are.. they can creep back in when you least expect it. But it’s human nature…. what can we do?
😊
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Yes, exactly! You said that so well. All of a sudden you feel like being in their control again. And then it is wonderful when you have an understanding soul next to you.
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My wish would be that everyone has an understanding soul near them!!!
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So, let’s start with ourselves…. right?
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Agree!!!
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💖
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Yup, past is past, it should be put behind at all costs.
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That is right. But sometimes we think we left the past behind and only notice when we experience a particular situation that it only was hidden somewhere deep down. Thank you very much, for your comment, Mehwish!
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There is an incident that I always remember, every year.. May be because that incident is hidden deep somewhere in the memory. I think that I’ve gotten over, but alas! I haven’t. And whenever I fail to accomplish my goals, I am reminded of that incident.. You are absolutely right. Past only makes our present miserable. Most welcome. 🙂 keep writing.
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I wish you from the bottom of my heart that one day soon you can take this incident and put it at rest. You don’t need trying to forget it because that doesn’t work anyway. But I am sure that one day you can look at it and say: Thank you for what you helped me to evolve but now I don’t need you anymore.
When I was ready to let of something that really had a huge negative impact in my life, I did this: https://erikakind.wordpress.com/2015/07/16/my-symbol-of-letting-go/
Perhaps it inspires. Hugs to you!
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