Stories we tell ourselves
Recently the universe decided it was time to delve into some more childhood trauma. There were two instances in my early childhood where I was genuinely scared for myself physically and intimidated. I was frozen in fear, eyes downcast, unable to even speak. Luckily I was able to walk away. But what I took away from those experiences were stories. I gave the experiences and my reaction in them specific meaning. It meant that I wasn't worth defending (for myself), I didn't deserve happiness because my actions failed to earn it, and a couple of other stories that have affected me since. For example, why have I always felt like I can jump into doing hard things and give it my all but at the last moment it just isn't going to work out? I'm going to fail at the last second. I didn't understand that until I connected these experiences with it. And I found that all the meaning and stories I had given were simply not true. For the first time I saw that it was all just crap and the truth is that I reacted as a scared kid because I WAS and that was the best I could have done then. So, I had to go into meditation and find that kid version of myself and apologize and let him know it was finally ok, that he did the best he could have under the circumstances. And then I was able to let the stories go. Then I felt like there was a literal hole in my chest (in a good way, like a giant tumor had just been removed). And it is being filled with new things now like self belief and hope and positivity . Hope that helps someone.