Healing Emotional Triggers

We all have things that trigger us.  They cause us to automatically respond to a person or a situation without thought; to pull a reaction or behavior from us that is not always ideal.

Often, the things that trigger us stem from a past experience that, in turn, caused a learned behavior in response.  Learning what triggers us allows us to break free and be in the driver’s seat of our lives.  We are no longer drifting along getting triggered and reacting – instead, we become creators of our story.

Sometimes the things that trigger us are obvious, such as an addict being in an environment that makes them desire the object of theirA yellow, orange and blue background with a colorful crystal cluster on it.  The words are: you are stronger than you think, and everyday I am becoming a better version of myself addiction.  Other times we may not even be aware that we are being triggered.  Have you ever reacted to a situation and afterwards felt you may have had a disproportionate response?   Sometimes the things that trigger us have origins at a time when we were too young to be aware that we were being triggered and learning a protection response.   Whatever the reason, the things that trigger us often become our limitations.

We can allow our emotional responses to rule us, and be reactionary to life, or we can use our emotions as a guide, a catalyst and a teacher.

When you feel triggered:
  1. Become aware: Notice what triggered you and why.  Simply becoming aware of things that cause automatic reactions in us, gives us the power to either change the automatic response, or learn from it and heal.  Should you find yourself simply reacting, take time after the incident to examine why you felt the need to respond in that way, and if thinking about your response took you back to a moment in your past, you have the power to release it.
  2. Tune into your emotions: Your emotions are your guide.  Tuning into what you are feeling lets you know if you are on the right path or if you need to  change direction.  If you find yourself feeling as though you are always living on an emotional rollercoaster, know that there are many tools that can help you come back to center.  Meditating is the one of the most powerful tools and doesn’t cost a cent.
  3. Choose who you gift your time to: If being around a certain person always causes you to react or behave in a way you do not like, or makes you feel unworthy, it is time to walk away – not easy to do but one of the most healing acts you can do for yourself.  The people around us have the greatest influence on how we feel, and we may not realize how much we pick up from them and hold onto.  Your time is precious, so gift it wisely to people that count – those who support you and who you feel joy in supporting. 

Recognize that you are not alone in the way you are feeling.  Reaching out for support and being in a community that understands and supports you is a powerful way to reclaim your life.  

What triggers are you ready to release?  How can I support this?

Many Blessings,
Santa

RUNNING THROUGH DARKNESS
MEMOIR OF A SPIRITUAL WARRIOR

BY SANTA MOLINA-MARSHALL ‧ RELEASE DATE: MAY 3, 2022

This debut memoir chronicles a woman’s spiritual exploration and growth as she overcame a disturbing childhood and helped others heal.

Brought to America from the Dominican Republic as a youngster, Molina-Marshall should have led a happy life. Her father was a diligent worker, and his large family wanted for nothing. But the author recounts that her dad had a drinking problem and was a serial philanderer. Molina-Marshall’s long-suffering mother left him for a woman. Then it was all downhill for the bright, 12-year-old girl, who was shuttled between foster care and relatives. According to the author, she was sexually abused by the husband of one of her siblings. This resulted in Molina-Marshall becoming alienated and moody. By 15, she simply tried to survive. In her favor were grit and a restless intelligence. She quit school, rented a room, and found a factory job. Time went by, and for a while she was happily married. Yet when her husband left her, her life truly began. She turned to religion for answers but decided that blaming God for her woes was a cop-out. 

In this absorbing and moving memoir, Molina-Marshall’s vivid storytelling is fearless. She frankly discusses the truths she discovered and the indignities she suffered. These admissions are disclosed with a touch of resignation and plenty of bite. However painful, everything she experienced was a lesson, and she bravely realized that she was part of the problem: “The fear of being hurt, rejected, or abused often led to me feeling lonely and misunderstood. No one knew the agonizing pain I felt being trapped in my thoughts and anger. I was becoming my biggest threat.” 

The author skillfully recounts her intricate spiritual journey. To deal with her psychic wounds, she searched for an inspirational system. Her open-mindedness led her to the interfaith concept—cherry-picking from various religions and spiritual movements, yoga, and Indigenous beliefs as a way of finding peace. Along with her female partner, she built a therapy practice, making use of every spiritual element that aided her and others. The road was bumpy, and she found that women of color in same-sex relationships were not welcomed everywhere. To do good works—and finally live on her own terms—she effectively overcame bigotry.

An engrossing, cathartic account of empathy and success through determination and confidence.

Pub Date: May 3, 2022   |    ISBN: 978-0-578-38315-6  |   Page Count: 264    | Publisher: From Trauma to Triumph  |   Review Posted Online: June 13, 2022