People who have lived through trauma, especially trauma that occurred at a very young age, almost always have difficulty letting go of the fear that they will be hurt again. According to teachers like Teal Swan, if it happened in childhood, our minds may remember all the feelings and associations with the event as though it were happening right now. In adulthood, memories can arise of things that have never actually happened to us but may be based on mental associations with traumatic events.
Here are some ways to find release from our past fears and deal with past trauma on a spiritual basis.
Recognize that everything outside of you is a reflection of what’s inside
It may be hard to grasp, but according to spiritual teachers, everything that happens to us is a reflection of an inner pattern or belief system. By working with the idea that what you don’t like in your life is really just a mirror reflection of an inner conflict that still needs healing, it becomes easier to let go and forgive yourself or others. When you realize that what you’re looking at is just a mirror reflection of yourself, it becomes clear that the only way to change or improve your situation is to look inside and heal those inner patterns.
Forgive yourself
In order to prevent old memories from popping up in our minds as though they are happening right now, we must first forgive ourselves. If you have a tendency to beat yourself up, find ways to understand that whatever happened at the time was just what needed to happen. There is no reason to feel guilty about having lived through trauma as a child or an adult. You didn’t ask for it, and there’s nothing you could have done differently.
Forgiveness doesn’t mean that you are saying what happened to you is okay. It simply means telling yourself that since the experience was not your fault, it’s time to let go of any feelings of blame or guilt so that healing can begin. Forgiveness also doesn’t necessarily mean you have to open up and talk about it with anyone else, at least not right away. It means forgiving others and forgiving yourself so that the past no longer has the power to keep you stuck in fear.
Let it go
Once we recognize that our inner world is a reflection of what’s going on in our outer world, and once we understand how to forgive ourselves for having lived through trauma in both childhood and adulthood, we can be free to let it go.
This doesn’t mean pretending that the trauma didn’t happen or just trying not to think about it anymore. It means accepting that whatever happened, happened for a reason and using the strength you gain from facing difficult situations to make something positive happen in your life. Every experience is for your spiritual growth, and when you recognize that fact, it becomes easier to let go.
Learn from others
If you tend to withdraw from others in fear of being hurt again, try seeking out the company of happy, positive people who make you feel good about yourself and who help restore a sense of trust in humanity. Look for friends or a spiritual teacher who can help you understand that bad experiences are a normal part of life and who can teach you forgiveness, letting go, and moving on.
