As we become more mindful and aware in the moment we can start to recognize our reactions. These reactions can give us clues to where and what we need to process. A triggering event occurs and we have an emotional reaction. There are four main categories where our reactions come from: Egoic Structure, Negative Programming, Traumatic Memory, and Ancestral Trauma.

STEP 1: Become Aware

When we reflect on an experience that triggered us, or we are aware in the moment of our emotional reaction to a situation, we have the opportunity to bring it fully conscious and use the processing tools to help us move into a balanced state of neutrality and out of reactivity.

STEP 2: Identify the Trigger

What caused you to react- to change your mood- to say something, feel something, be reminded of something? What was it that really bothered you? What occurred?

STEP 3: What was your Reaction?

Egoic Structure - Did you react with: judgement, expectation, attachment, or resistance? Our individual life experiences condition us to strong preferences and ideas about the way things should happen. These bias our perception and limit our ability to see all sides of a situation. When the egoic structure gets pinged, and we react, there is one or more polarities that can be processes to return to a neutral state. More on Egoic Structure

Negative Programming - Did you react with: a repetitive negative thought about yourself or someone else? an unfavorable behavior? or a belief about something being good/bad/right/wrong? When you reflect, do you have to question where this belief/behavior came from? We call these negative programs. Things we picked up along the way that we learned at one time but no longer serve us. It is the negative self talk, the beliefs you don't want to hold anymore, it's the idea you learned that you can't seem to unlearn.

Traumatic Memory - Did you have a powerful emotional or physical reaction? Can you feel it in your body? Where you scared? Did you flash back to another time you felt this way? When we experience trauma it stays in our body and that Traumatized Self re-experiences the trauma again and again as it gets triggered throughout our life if we do not address the original trauma. When our reaction feels personally painful and strong there is often a traumatic memory to process. There are many techniques for working with past trauma, but it can often be cleared with the processing techniques you will be learning.

Ancestral Trauma - Were you confused with your reaction? Did you feel it in your body but cannot attach a memory? If there is a strong emotional reaction but you do not know why it would bother you? This could be ancestral trauma. We carry the unresolved trauma of our ancestors in our physical body through our DNA. Oppression, war, slavery, starvation, the experiences of our lineage live on through us. Generating this awareness is the first step in healing.

Many times it is not just one type of reaction triggered. You may have layers of personal trauma, ego, negative programming, and ancestral trauma come up all from the same trigger event! That is ok. My intent is to equip you with the awareness and tools to feel empowered in healing your past for an illuminated future.

What's Next: For a deeper understanding of Perception & Reality check out the articles in Part 2 of the Self Study Program. If you feel you want to jump ahead to learn the processing techniques that is ok too!

Daily Practice: Schedule time in the morning or night to reflect or journal on your day and any triggering events that may have occurred. What was it that triggered you? How did you react? What emotions did you feel? Was it a physical reaction? Did any memories come to mind? What is something you learned? See if you can pinpoint one or two categories. If you have went further in your studies, use the processing technique(s) you resonate with.