Why We Hold onto Emotional Pain |
Posted: July 24, 2013 |
Why We Hold onto Emotional Pain “Healing requires courage to re-experience the pain of the past.” As I considered this, my first thought was agreement. We don’t heal because we’re scared. Scared to revisit the past. Scared to feel the pain. Scared to be hurt again. I need more courage! My second thought was Poppycock. We don’t need to fear re- visiting the past; I think we already LIVE there way too often…we just got real good at pretending and repressing and telling ourselves lies that we don’t. Though fear no doubt plays a part, it’s not all about a lack of courage. It’s about not letting go. We want to remain stuck in the pain. Keeping the pain alive serves us in a variety of ways:
Sounds crazy…who WANTS to be in pain, right? Unless the pain somehow serves you… It’s not crazy; it’s dysfunctional. There’s a difference. Know a diabetic who still eats desserts? Someone with hypertension who stays in a high stress job? A gal who keeps gambling even though she waded through all her savings? The shopper who has a closet full of clothes with tags intact and max-ed out credit cards? A smoker with COPD? An abused wife who stays in the marriage? All are staying in pain, so are all crazy? Dysfunctional behavior is not crazy…it’s irrational. It might be habit. Might be survival. BUT AS LONG AS IT SERVES US, WE’RE NOT LETTING GO. Pain or no pain, I’m holding on tight as I can. Look at where pain exists in your life and ask this question: how is this pain serving me? The courage isn’t needed for the re-experiencing; shucks, we do that every day. It’s needed for the getting honest enough to let go. What once held you safe, now imprisons you. Don’t be afraid to let go. God has a big net. Your new now awaits….. Like to be personally coached by Annie? Click here for your free consultation: http://hoppy9090.wix.com/whole
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