Understanding Our Relationship with Trauma

We all yearn for happiness, security, freedom, and abundance. However, we often find ourselves grappling with destructive patterns and past traumas that linger within us. It's a paradox; while we desire to shed these burdens, they are integral to our identity. The scars we bear are familiar to us, perhaps even predictable.

Trauma is an intrinsic part of who we are. We often try to convince ourselves that it exists separately from our identity. In seeking therapy, we hope for a magical remedy—an eraser to remove the pain, the trauma, and the suffering. Yet, we struggle to accept that these experiences shape who we are.

It is futile to attempt to erase what has already become part of us; our experiences are inseparable from our identity. The path to healing lies not in avoidance but in embracing our pain. We must engage with our suffering rather than pushing it away. We often wish to wake up free of our past, but it's crucial to recognize that trauma has been a significant force in our lives. Until we acknowledge it, it will continue to hold power over us.

It is essential to view ourselves as a whole, taking into account everything we have endured. We must confront both past traumas and present realities, recognizing that the effects of trauma persist and influence our lives.

When we have unhealed wounds, we expend tremendous energy trying to protect ourselves from the pain. We become vulnerable to unmet needs and unresolved trauma. Acknowledging our experiences requires a deep and holistic recognition—one that encompasses every part of our being.

Therapy is not merely about glossing over past traumas with comforting words or locking them away in a metaphorical box, hoping to forget. Rather, it is a process of rehabilitation, leading to a new understanding of ourselves in relation to our experiences. It is about consciously excavating the remnants of our past. Through therapy, we learn how to navigate our pain and become resilient individuals.