(Alanna Ketler) “Trauma not transformed is trauma transferred.” It is important to know that there are many different forms of trauma, not necessarily what you might expect — be it a car accident, a soldier on the front line or sexual abuse. We can become traumatized in many ways; we often carry our trauma as wounding from our childhood. Even those who think they had a fairly decent upbringing could still carry some trauma within them, to varying degrees.
Related Childhood Traumas Can Stay with You for Life – by Messing with Your Hormone Levels, Says Study
by Alanna Ketler, December 24th, 2019
So, what exactly is meant by the title of this article and aforementioned quote? A great example comes to mind of the devastating events that took place in Canada during the period of colonialism and extending up until the 1990’s; the mass extermination, cultural genocide, and displacement of the indigenous populations. Thousands of children were taken from their homes and forced into residential schools where they were forbidden from speaking their native language, beaten and often sexually abused. Because there weren’t really tools at the time to process these horrific events that occurred, many traumatized indigenous people turned to drugs and alcohol as a means of coping with all of the unprocessed pain they were carrying. Several generations later, and alcoholism is still rampant across the indigenous reservations of Canada. Sure, the younger generations were not exposed directly to the same type of trauma as their ancestors, however, because it was left unprocessed, but it was still passed on to the next generations and many of them still struggle with alcoholism. This is because, trauma not transformed is trauma transferred.
I can speak to this notion as alcoholism runs in my family as well — even though I am a Caucasian Canadian, with German and Icelandic roots. I’ve had my own struggle with addiction, but the more I am able to process my pain, the lesser the chance that this pain will be passed on to my offspring — should I choose to procreate.
I’ve heard before that the first one to awaken in the family is often tasked with the largest undertaking of healing trauma for the entire ancestral lineage — and that every time we do this work our ancestors rejoice that we are choosing to end the cycle, and do what is required to heal, rather than transfer our trauma onto the next generations.
Buy Book Invisible Heroes: Survivors of Trauma and How They Heal
Let’s Take A Step Back To This Present Lifetime
Take a grown man, who physically abuses his wife — perhaps when he was a young child, he witnessed his father doing the same to his Mother, this alone is traumatizing for a child to witness. If that trauma is left unprocessed, that child may grow up to be a man who abuses his wife. Having never known another way to be, this pain can manifest into abusive behaviour, however, it could also be a catalyst to heal.
Luckily, we are living in a time where people are becoming aware of the importance of doing sincere self-work, so many are ending theses cycles of trauma in their lineage.
The video below is of a ted talk given by Tabitha Mpamira-Kaguri and it provides some excellent examples of the topic at hand.
Final Thoughts
Pain left unprocessed will almost inevitably passed on. It is important to do the work that is required to release your pain and your trauma to not only set yourself free, but to free everyone else from this cycle. This is all one aspect of what it will take to create the new earth that we dream of and also relates to CE’s motto — Change starts within. It starts with us, with each of us, taking radical responsibility for ourselves, our actions and how we treat those around us.
“Everybody wants to change the world, but nobody wants to change.”
Its time.
About The Author
Stillness in the Storm Editor: Why did we post this?
Why bother trying to improve yourself? Because the self the venue through which you experience everything, including, taking action in the world. But the self isn’t like a car, it doesn’t just work—it takes work to make it work for you. The self is not only the thing you use to experience the world but it’s the thing you’re discovering through your exploration of the world. What’s more, it’s also the thing you’re creating through your actions and thought processes. Oddly enough, the self is the thing we have the most control over and is the most influential in our lives, despite its elusive nature, it makes sense that trying to improve ourselves is arguably the master key to success in all areas of life. The preceding information discusses the importance of self-work, speaking to techniques, psychology, philosophy, or spirituality. Put simply, there are two choices in life: develop control and mastery over the animal self or let your animal instincts and fears control your life. For many, the tools needed to gain control and liberation therefrom are not available, and so the quest to improve the self seems worthless. But suffering in general is one of many spiritual influences that motivate the individual to become the best version of themselves. This sacred call to realize your full potential is something almost everyone feels at some point in their lives. Those who step forward in this path, despite life’s hardships, transcend suffering and become active players in the Great Work of making the world a better place through their very being.
– Justin
Not sure how to make sense of this? Want to learn how to discern like a pro? Read this essential guide to discernment, analysis of claims, and understanding the truth in a world of deception: 4 Key Steps of Discernment – Advanced Truth-Seeking Tools.
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Source:
https://www.collective-evolution.com/2019/12/24/video-trauma-not-transformed-is-trauma-transferred/
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