Lately, our attachment to the past and our inability to let go of it has come up in various conversations.
Whether the past holds good or distrubing memories, it continues to have a hold on us. And that stops us from living completely in the present.
Why does the past have this hold on our lives?
According to many learned therapists and researchers, if we have undergone any extreme experience that was beyond our ability to endure and process (trauma), it affects our brain networks such that many of our behaviours are not in our conscious control. That is PTSD, Post-traumatic Stress Disorder. Thankfully, various therapies are available today for people to remap their brain circuits and live happy and fulfilling lives.
Sometimes, the experiences of the past are not extreme. They seem mundane and insignificant but they still leave a mark. These wounds are usually caused by our perception. As Epictetus said, “People are distrubed not by things but by the view they take of them.”
In a recent Psychodrama session, I recalled a past experience that were very painful for me. I also held some beliefs of how these events affected my family. Under the guidance of my Director, I was able to draw these beliefs out, express them in action, and face them. After the session, as I processed my experience, I decided to validate my beliefs with my mother. As it turns out, she remembered things quite differently. She also shared many experiences and memories that proved very healing for me. The wounds that I had carried for so long were a a result of my own perception. And if I had not processed them, I would still be stuck in that past experience.
Does your past also have a hook in you? Do you want to move past it? You can attend the inner work sessions every week, Friday, at 6 PM to learn various skills and techniques to improve your life. You can also take personal inner work sessions with us if you need specific support.