Do you remember a time you were made fun of? Maybe even bullied? Regardless of how you label those experiences, most of us can remember a time when someone in our peer group a teacher, or even a family member intentionally or unintentionally made fun of something we did or said. Take a moment to observe what comes up for you when you read this. Sometimes, the memory can be painful, or we shrug our shoulders and think: ‘Whatever!’ Either way it is a feeling from the past activated by an experience you are having now. Ignoring these feelings doesn’t make them go away. Are all these feelings a big deal? Maybe not; however paying attention to whose emotions when they do appear is a good practice. When you become aware of these emotions manifesting in your body, you can identify them. If they make you feel like you should be acting differently from what aligns with your current purpose, try acknowledging them and counteracting them by telling yourself: “That was then, this is now. I know what is right for me today!” Every time you follow through with this practice, you minimize the power of a trauma response!

Regardless of who poked fun at me in the past, I will always treat myself to a new notebook and the most beautifully colored pens I can find, whenever I embark on a new project, start a new chapter, or pursue a fresh beginning of my choice! It brings me joy and shuts down that trauma response real fast!