Hello and welcome back to Second Chance to Live my friend. In April of 2007 I wrote an article to share some thing that I learned through my process: If you do not make peace with your past, it will spoil your present. In today’s article I would like to share some of what I have learned through my process that has helped me to be able to make peace with my past.
If you do not make peace with your past, your past will spoil your present
Throughout my life’s experience, I have come to realize that many of my reactions to people, places and situations have been impacted by previous experience. These reactions may be connected to and as a result of specific smells, sounds or situations that were associated with some event or person from my past. Consequently, I may find myself reacting to present day events, people or circumstances that are connected to past events, people or circumstances.
These imprinted memories can come flooding forward, sometimes without warning. Such memories can hinder my ability to grow and excel in my present because they keep me tied to unresolved pain in my past. In my experience, I have come to realize that these reactions are triggers that remind me of what I have not made peace with in my past. Triggers bring about responses and patterns of behavior — sometimes consciously, but more often unconsciously.
Through my process, I discovered that my triggers had a common thread that linked me to the pain of my unfinished business. Through my process, I discovered that the common thread that linked me to the pain of unfinished business were my resentments. Resentments seeded in what had been done to me. Resentments seeded in the unrealistic expectations that I had for other people and myself. Resentments that; regardless of their justification, were spoiling my present.
“Resentment is like taking poison and hoping the other person dies.” St. Augustine of Hippo
Please make sure to read Part 2 of this article. To read Part 2 of this article, please click on this link Living with a brain injury — Not letting your Past spoil your Present Part 2
I will say so long for now.
Have a great day.
Craig
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