Outdated Behaviors

Have you ever noticed how, when you visit family, old friends or the place you grew up, you can revert to old worn-out behaviors? You act prickly or quieter than usual? Maybe you lose your temper, act out or feel anxious. What is going on with this?

This is all related to old stresses stored deep within us. Any time we are faced with a situation that leads to an emotional overload, a memory of that gets stored in the body as a stress. This is nothing more than our physiology trying to keep a record of things that it labeled dangerous at the time, in an attempt to keep us safe in the future.

When behaviors like this rise up it lets us know those old stresses are still there, stored in our physiology. Usually, we are not even aware we have this stored stress. But then, when we find ourselves in a similar place or situation, we suddenly feel the emotion associated with the stored stress. We feel afraid, angry or sad. And the behaviors we developed as young people to cope with these emotions come into play. Being ‘back home’ is bringing to the surface feelings and emotions and the accompanying behaviors.

All of us have stored stresses that cause us to react in ways we would prefer not to. All those interactions we had with peers as we grew, learned and evolved and as our family members grew, learned and evolved, of course we experienced some events that were overwhelming. So, when we get together with family it is not unusual for these things to pop up.

As meditators we know we are not our behavior. We are reminded of this twice a day as we touch that place of deep inner silence, our least-excited state. The old stress has now been highlighted and is ready to be released. We know exactly what to do, meditate. Simply, innocently meditate. Allow these old stresses to unwind and release. Recognize the behavior for what it is, just a behavior, just an old habit.

Congratulate yourself, you noticed! This is evolution. Will we forget and repeat these habits again? Yes of course, and each time you do you will notice a little sooner, be upset a little less, course correct sooner. We are evolving and we’re exactly where we need to be in our evolution right now.

If you’re already a meditator let me know how I can help support your practice. If you are not a meditator yet, contact me to begin your own rapid evolution to self-sufficiency.