Is It Time for an Update?
Horses have had a significant impact on human society. Their increased travel efficiency compared to travelling on foot transformed ancient societies. Some of the ground work was laid for modern society to develop. That being said, modern society has needs that far exceed the abilities of horses. A horse can’t fill the many vital functions modern automobiles do because automobiles are significantly better than horses at travel. If you can picture a horse in a race against a Tesla, it probably feels absurd as we all know who wins that race. At this point you are probably thinking - Why are we talking about horses and Teslas? Good question.
People develop various psychological mechanisms, consciously and unconsciously, throughout their life to help themselves in dealing with the distress experienced while in their environments. Some of those mechanisms are healthy, and others not so much but with limited options for relief, these mechanisms can be the only pathway for necessary relief. In an attempt to protect ourselves, we have no choice but to rely on these to overcome the painful circumstances occurring at the time.
Why do these mechanisms matter?
These mechanisms can mean the difference between a functional and fulfilled life or the opposite. They can result in behaviors like workaholism, excessive drinking, drug abuse, taking out the anger with your boss on your child, avoiding confrontation, forgetting abuse that occurred as a child, denying the reality of situations that occurred, uncontrollable anger outbursts, binge eating, self-harming behavior, blaming others for our conduct, isolation, and many more.
Just like horses, the mechanisms we developed as children and teens were once helpful and necessary. The reality is that as our lives change, so do our requirements, and we can’t continue to employ those old mechanisms to our current life. To do so often leads to a myriad of issues including negative feelings about ourselves and the world around us. In other words, when the only ways we know how to feel about and deal with life are no longer working to keep us safe and content, it can be quite distressing.
What can you do?
If you are having issues dealing with your current life or reaching the place in life you want to be, then it might be time for an update. The great news is that it is possible to update your brain; to change the mechanisms you developed in the past. You don’t have to keep using a horse while everyone else is driving their Tesla. Get off the horse and climb into the Tesla.
Start changing old mechanisms for new ones. The brain is malleable and that allows for healing. With awareness, learning, support, and dedication, you can change your mechanisms to be one step closer to fulfillment, and living the life you dream of and are fighting for.
Need some help making updates?
Change can be hard, but one of our team members can help you make updates to your thinking.