Focusing our attention on cultivating awareness around mental and emotional well-being through the study of how the neurons, located in our brains, fire together forming the behaviors we exemplify based on what our traditions, beliefs, culture, and community have instilled into our programming and upbringing is what we are talking about on IGTVLIVE this entire week.

Dr.Joe Dispenza speaks about how “our conditioned past creates our predictable future.” This holds great value. When we are young, we are exposed to whatever is in the space at that time, teaching us that lesson, for that moment, by that situation.

Each time the “said situation” presents itself, it appears the same, just wrapped up in a different package.

At times it feels like “we have been here before.” (Nine in Nails)

Going through the same experience, feeling the same pain, reacting the same way. We have the power to rewire these neurons. To make an extensive change, just by shifting our mindset. (just like we spoke about last week, perception)

The brain has two roads that lead back to the main path, the high road which is slower to process, more methodical, looks at the big picture, and the low road, highly emotional and reactionary. Together, the low road forms the emotional response consciously with the high road when clarity is presented. Most of the time, we are reactionary beings that remain on the surface level of life. We see the ripples from the pebble that sank its way into the root of being, but we don’t see the pebble clearly.

In this analogy, the pebble is the source of the circumstance, and the ripples are the effects.

What happened in the past is sometimes the anchor of what holds us down from rising to greatness. The circumstance may have been so painful, we may think we have a clear perspective of what happened exactly, but like the pebble at the bottom of the lake, trying to see through the ripples, one can not see clearly entirety of the pebble. Instead of just letting the pebble be, we revisit it over and over, hoping to find clarity or closure, when all the while remaining in the cycle of the wound.

Anything that remotely reminds us of the past, inadvertently, triggers a past condition and therefore we react with a predictable response and co-create the predictable future.

“I knew this would happen…”

Ever wonder where the term “you are so predictable’’ came from?” (me too)

Traditions form a paradigm that one grows attached to, and at times may even form blindness to any other invitation of seeing differently. Traditions are great to an extent, but also carry a heaviness to them. Traditions are mostly practiced in gatherings of community and family. Where some may feel included, others may be excluded, or feel inadequate or form a stigma or aversion to a certain time of year, or family member.. (which we spoke of a few episodes back in Yoga is Not a Performance)

In order to break the same cycle with the same outcome… We need to understand the story we are telling ourselves and how true is it? Can we change? Do we want to change? Do we want to grow?

Words have incredible power over us. As much as our surroundings, environment, and circumstances. We are told to do something and most of us do it. Someone says something hurtful, and we remember it forever…

Journal topic Lifework/ Post, comment contribution…

When was the last time you had a falling out with someone and what were the last words exchanged?
When was the last time you saw that person?
How does this impact you?

Traditionally, we will revert back to the same behavioral patterns that are responsive to the answers we responded with.

Now look at the same questions and ask yourself:

Why did you have that last falling out with someone?
Why was that the last time you chose to see that person?
Why does this impact or not impact you?
Are you able to see things in a different light, or has this created a scar somewhere?

See you Monday on IGTVLIVE at 9:30am CST for our weekly Well-Being lifestyle talk about all things Yoga and Wellness related.

Next week we dive into, Surviving The Story Within

Reference: The Body Keeps the Score; book by Bessel van der Kolk M.D.

Here are some resources to get you started along your journey:

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