Childhood Memories

Sometimes, childhood memories are not particularly positive, rather being part of the roots of our old personal myths if not real traumas we may have suffered.  Traumas have a habit of resurfacing, like how you always seem to physically hurt yourself in the same place over and over again. In the worst cases physical and emotional traumas can lead to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).  (See my blog from March 2016 about PTSD.)  However, if not traumatic, our old negative personal myths can sometimes serve a purpose. For example, a past failure that led to a personal myth about needing to prove yourself could contribute to feelings of self confidence and independence and over time, lead to a strengthening of these positive aspects despite the original negative experience.  Sometimes, we need a little help to locate where feelings come from within us.  Meditative reflection, Healing Relaxation and hypnotherapy programs can help us continue on the quest for balance -- recognizing that we may have many experiences tucked in our subconscious that are not all good or all bad.

This realization can seem obvious when you look back on past memories, but most of us subconsciously color our memories into positive and negative associations that, according to the Theory of Mind, we then carry with us, possibly without even recalling the root cause. Trying to focus on strengthening one side or ending up wallowing in the other can be a challenge in trying to move forward in personal growth.  As a facilitator of your own exploration of your subconscious, a hypnotherapist can help you better understand some of the sources of wisdom and insight that are within you and help you gain perspective on your own memories.

Contact me to start making powerful changes in your life.

References

Davenport, L. (2009). Healing and transformation through self-guided imagery. Berkeley, CA: Celestial Arts.

Feinstein, D., & Krippner, S. (2008). Personal mythology: Discovering the guiding stories of your past -- creating a vision for your future (3rd Ed.). Santa Rosa, CA: Energy Psychology Press/Elite Books.

Jung, C.G. (1968). The archetypes and the collective unconscious (R.F.C. Hull, Trans.)(2nd Ed.). Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.

Kappas, J.G. (2009). Professional hypnotism manual: Introducing physical and emotional suggestibility and sexuality (5th Ed.). Tarzana, CA: Panorama Publishing Company.

How Personal Mythology can Help or Hinder

Our families give us not only DNA, but also personal history and personal mythology. As our minds re-interpret and smooth the edges of facts from our memories and as we take in stories that have grown and shrunk in the telling as family legends, we build up internal stories and we add to them our subconscious associations. Positive and negative memories are collected and attached to ideas that may be from our own past memories, from phobias and fantasies, or from elements of our lineage. The smell of apple pie baking in granny’s kitchen can become locked in the subconscious as a positive association with feelings of love and warmth and childhood delight. Such a positive association may not be consciously understood or even remembered, but it can still make millions of people smile and feel at home when they smell cinnamon and therefore be highly profitable for potpourri makers.

From my ancestors’ experiences of valuing self-reliance and assuming the roles of providers and protectors of their children and families, I can see the genesis of some of my own attitudes. Although I have no children for which to provide and protect, I grew up with a strong sense of self-reliance and a sense that I must ensure the safety and success of my household. I believe that these aspects of my personal mythology have helped motivate me to provide support to my partner and have contributed significantly to our business successes over the years.

Considering these reflections alongside the experiences I have had in meditation, dream work and regression hypnosis, I can see how some of my own elements of personal mythology have also limited my willingness to engage with others and to share with them over the years. If one is defensive, closed and mistrustful of others, it is hard to focus on the positive and to benefit from the sharing of positive energies. It is hard to tell whether the personal mythology strengthens behavior patterns, or whether behavior patterns reinforce the personal mythology. I think that both are true. In order to truly make changes, one must recognize the underlying personal mythology.  Know thyself!

Hypnosis provides a proven method of accessing the subconscious directly in order to explore, understand and begin to make changes to the internal associations that you have that may be limiting you in some way. Unfounded fears or phobias such as fear of the water or (most commonly) of public speaking affect many people and most could not explain the source or reason for their feelings. Hypnosis is a safe, effective and powerful tool to help you better understand yourself, tap into the usually hidden resources of your own mind and help you make positive changes in your life. All those powerful associations embedded in your personal mythology don’t need to remain inaccessible.

References

Davenport, L. (2009). Healing and transformation through self-guided imagery. Berkeley, CA: Celestial Arts.

Feinstein, D., & Krippner, S. (2008). Personal mythology: Discovering the guiding stories of your past -- creating a vision for your future (3rd Ed.). Santa Rosa, CA: Energy Psychology Press/Elite Books.

Yapko, M.D. (2011). Mindfulness and hypnosis: The power of suggestion to transform experience. New York, NY: W.W. Norton and Company, Inc.