Controlling your Triggers

The trigger on a gun is a lot like triggers we have in our lives (hence the name). They cause a physical chain reaction that ends up in an explosive event that is intended to protect or do harm in some way. The problem is, we get triggered a lot more often than we are actually threatened or in danger.

Today I overheard something that triggered me. I thought "Why don't others step in and stop this from happening!" Now as we explore this together it doesn't matter what the topic was or who the "others" were because it could be anything and anyone. This event caused a trigger within me to be pulled. The first physical thing it caused was a constricting within my chest. I can liken that to the squeezing of a trigger. That constriction started a chain reaction that caused me to respond with the previous thought, "Why don't others step in..."

This is the key moment to any trigger. If we are not aware of this being set into motion the explosive event will inevitably occur. Now, there is nothing "wrong" with the explosive event occurring, It has happened before and I am sure it will happen again. However, noticing the trigger, and identifying the truth behind it can interrupt that chain reaction before the explosive event takes place.

For myself, the thought "Why don't others step in?" refers back to my fear of having been bullied. I wanted adults to step in and stop bullying, but since they didn't I felt that they were allowing it to happen. This caused me to feel constricted when I was reminded of it. Of course, it wasn't being "allowed" to happen, but because I thought that, I felt the world was against me.

Having done this work for over 20 years I was able to interrupt the chain reaction before the explosive event. In the past, I might have been so frustrated I may have yelled at the TV or thrown my hands in the air in frustration. Instead of allowing the trigger to continue its chain reaction, I was able to calmly go inward, see the connection and realize that I still have feelings about being a victim that I will continue to look at.

It is not obvious to many people but recognizing our triggers, and not playing the victim and exploding, is something we can do to help others from exploding as well. Everything you do in your life is cumulative. But, it is not only cumulative in your life, it is that way in the world around you as well. This is how we can be the change we want to see in the world.

If you are interested in learning about how you can interrupt your triggers, and help heal this world, then you are ready to begin a journey to recover yourself. Respond to this email and let's set up a time to talk further.