Meeting Your Inner Guides
Feb 16, 2024
Hey there! On this journey of personal growth, healing our past pains is so crucial. Sometimes it can get so overwhelming it takes a team of allies to go along with us on our journey. Using guided imagery can help us meet our inner guides and allow for building our resilience as we move through life.
"The wound is the place where the light enters you."
— Rumi
Here’s What You'll Learn:
- How unresolved pains affect the way we decide things by altering our brain patterns.
- Why integrating difficult parts of our past helps us handle unexpected reactions better.
- How childhood experiences can shape our beliefs, even in households full of love.
- Meeting inner guides provides the support and wisdom we need when outside resources fall short.
Let's Talk About Healing and Decision-Making
Unresolved trauma has a profound impact on our cognitive functions, especially the amygdala and frontal lobe. When trauma sits unresolved, our amygdala lights up like a Christmas tree, making it challenging to make sound decisions. Here's a super simplistic scenario of how it plays out:
- The sparkly Christmas lights are getting all the attention, leaving the frontal lobe struggling to focus, complete tasks, and even remember a goal.
- Shame spirals ensue and erode our self-esteem.
- Rinse and repeat.
Remember, long-standing emotional trauma is an actual injury. Let’s look at some ideas for you.
Why Integration is Key
Our minds tend to hold onto experiences, like sponges, unless we consciously work through the pain. When old hurts go unaddressed, they fester below the surface. Then they cause surprising reactions when situations come up that remind us of past traumatic or difficult times.
Here's what happens:
- Reacting at a level ten instead of a two because a current situation reminds us of previous trauma or loss. An example of a trauma response is, “Hey, I said I didn’t want ice in my water,” when it’s really about maybe not feeling heard or respected in your life.
- Needing really clear communication and agreements to avoid misunderstandings is helpful. It’s nice to use humor so you don’t kill your partner. Here’s an example, “Hey, I just made up a story about you in my head, and you're the supervillain. Also, I’m holding you responsible for my negative illusion. Give me five minutes and I’ll be reasonable again.” Your partner will be less defensive when they see you taking responsibility.
Let's Look at How Childhood Experiences Shape Us
Let's take Peter as an example. He grew up with a father who was busy and absent a lot for work. He tragically lost his mother during childbirth. Peter often came home to an empty house, made his own meals, and found contentment in his alone time. No siblings or steady parental presence - just him and his thoughts.
This independent childhood shaped a core belief within Peter, one he wasn’t even fully aware of. That he was unworthy of others’ time and care. It wasn’t a result of a mean or neglectful dad. On the contrary, Peter’s father was kind. But the long hours of absence communicated something pivotal about Peter's worth to his subconscious mind.
This ingrained belief subtly influenced Peter as an adult. Unlike someone with a blaming mentality, he didn’t feel entitled or expect anything from anyone. But beneath the surface, one core conviction guided his relationships - that he had to do everything himself. This attracted partners who expected Peter to carry all the weight and responsibility.
On the outside, his adult life might have looked perfectly fine. But internally, Peter felt dissatisfied and depleted. The root cause? That unspoken, cellular belief that he didn’t deserve mutual care or time from others.
When Peter was able to identify the backdrop of his rule book, and rely on his inner allies when he wasn’t sure of himself, he was better able to set boundaries, attract a respectful community, and as a result, his self-esteem and confidence went through the roof!
Beyond Extreme Examples
The impact of trauma isn’t limited to extreme cases of overt abuse and neglect. Even developmental trauma, like Peter's, can shape our core beliefs in big ways. Whether in a loving home or one with real adversity, these formative experiences influence our nervous system, perceptions, and sense of safety.
Past pains also compound on one another. Layers of smaller hurts and letdowns add complexity to our reactions and ingrained instincts.
Where Do We Start?
It’s important to recognize that everyone begins at a different starting point when it comes to healing based on their personal histories. Depending on if you’ve experienced deep developmental trauma, or need some simple guidance can inform your starting point. Those first steps - whether attending a class, starting therapy, or joining a support group - build an important foundation. From there, deepening resilience and inner resources happens gradually at our own pace and comfort level.
Now, as we start peeling back the layers of old hurts, you might be wondering - how do I find the inner strength to keep healing? Even with supportive communities, developing your own inner resources is so important.
When we don't get consistent nurturing as kids, we've got to learn to become our own caring guide! This means building a team of inner allies - wise parts that you have internalized in you of that kind school teacher or your favorite auntie. You can access them in your mind for their continuous comfort, wisdom, and courage whenever you need it.
Meeting your inner guides can be a game changer for how you move through the world.
Think of your inner guides as your direct line to ask for help 24-7! For example, I love the idea of having a board of guides, and I present them all with the same question as if we were in a meeting, and note their response. Many clients ask, “How do you know if they’re inner guides?” It’s when they respond with respect and unconditional love for you. Having these inner mentors by your side makes all the difference in learning to truly care for yourself!
Tips for Meeting Your Inner Guides
If you're ready to start building a connection to your inner world, here are some suggestions:
- Imagine some kind of wise being. This can be an ancestor, your pet, or the Universe. It only matters that the image feels right to you.
- Ask your wise being your question, and listen for any messages or guidance.
- If you have no questions, ask them, “What do you want me to know today?
- Journal your new found wisdom and implement it in your life.
Invite In Your Inner Guides
When we lack external support, creating an inner circle of nourishing beings and wisdom is essential. By developing a relationship with our inner guides, we gain courage, clarity, and comfort during challenging times.
Would you like to be taken through the process of meeting your inner guides? This information above is from my deep dive series called, “Reveal and Heal Obstacles to Your Success™” There you will find a step-by-step healing path to help you build a strong and resilient foundation to heal from your past and move through life with ease.
You can find Meeting Your Inner Guides healing class in the Invoke and Release® Healing Circle
You will learn about the healing method Invoke and Release® which is a powerful tool helping you release emotional trauma so you can feel free to live the life you want.
The Invoke and Release® process can help you with:
- Invoking the presence of inner guides, angels, or spiritual support.
- Strengthen your ability to receive their guidance and wisdom.
- Release limiting beliefs that block you from your inner truth.
Joining the Invoke and Release® Healing Circle provides
- Expanded practices for meeting and dialoguing with your inner world.
- A place to share your experiences and insights.
- Increased self-awareness and connection to your inner truth.
If you feel called to deepen your relationship with your inner guides, I encourage exploring the Invoke and Release® Healing Circle. With an open mind and heart, you can access profound inner resources to anchor and illuminate your journey.
Important links:
Invoke and Release® Healing Circle
