You’ve probably seen these words: Trigger Warning!
This is a statement that is made prior to sharing any disturbing content with an audience. The content itself can range from anything like certain forms of violence, mental health issues, or abuse, etc. It is meant to give fair warning to anyone that suffers from post traumatic stress disorder so that they can decide if they want to continue with viewing the content.
Trigger warnings are an evolution in mental health awareness and personal responsibility. On one hand, the creators of the content are showing sensitivity to what someone may find disturbing. On the other hand, the viewer is being drawn into an invitation to dismiss the content as an avoidance strategy to not suffer any painful memories or experiences.
In terms of spiritual growth and evolution, whatever you find particularly triggering can serve as a sign post of where you need to do your inner work. Inner work being the investigation into the source of your suffering.
Pandora’s Box?
Many people are well aware of their source of suffering but don’t want to ‘open pandora’s box’ for fear of being engulfed by the impossible depth and breath of it. The idea of losing oneself with one’s memory of an event is too traumatizing to bear and so the avoidance of such an experience is always preferred.
However, we can never run away from ourselves and this deeply imbedded trauma will always be a hair’s breath away from remembering or re-experiencing if we choose to go there. This is the see-saw, back and forth, repeated cycle that many people find themselves experiencing.
You may have noticed that whatever it is you are avoiding seems to creep up in different ways, through different circumstances, different faces, and different characters.
This is because there is a pattern that is continually playing itself out over and over again trying to get your attention. These people, places, and circumstances are triggering because they represent something that is inside you.
You may have heard the old adage, “Wherever you go, there you are.”
This points to the fact that no matter what external changes you may make for yourself and no matter what hopes you have in avoiding and forgetting, you will always be stuck with you. You can’t escape yourself.
And so, eventually one realizes it is futile to keep running. It’s time to face everything.
Triggers are not limited to severe mental and emotional trauma.
Triggers are everywhere that you are unconscious, and for most people that is about 98% of the time.
Whatever we unconsciously react to can be seen as a trigger.
All triggers are reminders to investigate, contemplate, and inquire.
Whenever you find yourself being triggered either by the most severe or mundane, ask yourself, “What do I need to believe is true about myself in order to think, feel, or behave the way that I do?”
This question will help you to uncover a deeply imbedded belief. This belief is the core of all of your suffering.
Even in circumstances where you were clearly the victim and feel entitled to hold that role, you can still inquire within yourself and ask, “What do I need to believe is true about myself in order to think, feel, or behave the way that I do?”
If you are willing to ask you may be surprised at the answer you get.
You may find that you are holding onto a belief of disempowerment, unworthiness, or feel undeserving.
You may have accepted long ago that you are not worthy because of what he, she, or it did to you.
But existence isn’t seen through just one lens. Life is multi-dimensional.
When we do our inner work we go back to the place where we have frozen in time and we expand our point of view. Through the support of a mentor, teacher, therapist, or guide we are asked to see the circumstance through a different lens; a higher perspective.
In what way did this particular experience affect you mentally and emotionally?
How did your mental and emotional reactions affect your actions and behavior?
What sort of experiences did you then create for yourself?
What did you learn from these experiences?
How did these experiences invite you to grow, evolve, and mature?
Who did you meet along the way? How did these individuals affect your journey?
Looking back now, can you see that your journey, your story was perfect even in its apparent madness?
Can you stretch yourself to see the perfection in the imperfection?
Can you invite yourself to see from compassionate eyes that all characters, including you, were doing the best you knew with what you knew at the time?
Seeing yourself now, can you look deeply into your own eyes and see the perfection, the power, and the beautiful being that you are?
Can you see that you don’t need to do anything or become anyone in order to remain this perfect being?
Perhaps this line of questioning seems a bit far fetched and may have triggered you to feel a bit uncomfortable.
Follow that lead and inquire within yourself and seek to know the source of your pain.
I promise you that whatever you experienced can never diminish your perfection, your light, your beauty. No one is irredeemable.
The faster you come to realize that your suffering is self-created, then the faster you will set yourself free.
There is a cost though.
You will need to let go of being the victim and instead be the empowered being that you already are.
If you are interested in learning more about your ‘triggers’ and letting go of your suffering then please schedule a discovery call with me.
