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Found out my issue, how do I proceed?

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  • #149365
    Littlered
    Participant

    Hi everyone,

    I have been on the self reflection path recently and after some digging deep into my beliefs, thoughts, etc I have found one that really has come up as a glaring theme. Now that I have discovered this and can see it reflected in all areas of my life, I want to change it and heal. Can you please guide me?

    I have found that I have a pattern on feeling helpless and hence frustrated with not being able to do anything. I analysed all areas of my life until now and I see this. I always end up in situations where something or the other is an obstacle and I feel helpless (truly helpless, not just feeling that way, as in there is actually nothing I can do no matter how much I want to and I end up watching helplessly in pain) and there always has to be someone else who needs to do something for the situation to change and they don’t. No matter how much I try, it would be beyond my control. So I end up feeling frustrated. The more I resist or try to help, the worse it becomes and more stubborn the outcome. This has been the theme now and I really want it to change as the levels are going up very high and I can see it in my everyday life and relationships.

    Can you please tell me how I need to release this pattern and create a positive pattern in this place? What do I need to do exactly? I believe in the law of attraction very much and now I think in horror at what I must be attracting with such a vibration of helplessness if I don’t change!

    Thanks in advance!

     

     

    #149391
    Anonymous
    Guest

    Dear littlered:

    Am I understanding correctly?: an obstacle appears in your life. Following that, a certain pattern, or mental habit, is activated: certain thoughts take place, based on certain core beliefs, causing you anxiety that depletes you from the energy that you need to deal with the obstacle. As a result you don’t deal with it and instead you look for another person that will deal with it for you.

    This pattern, or mental habit, increases your anxiety because you feel more and more incapable of dealing with obstacles and you fear that the people who you hope will deal with the obstacles for you will harm you somehow, take advantage of you, perhaps.

    If I am correct in my understanding, can you share when and in what circumstances this pattern start, originate?

    anita

    #149465
    Littlered
    Participant

    Hi Anita, yes that is exactly how it happens. Thank you so much for putting it so clearly. I attract circumstances where I want something but somehow it is taken away from me or is there in front of me but I cannot have it. I have to stand and watch myself of my loved ones suffer and I am helpless. Now that you ask me I feel that there is no one instance that might have triggered this. It has been like this all my life. Let me share a few instances- 1. When I had to give my exams many people would come to my tiny apartment and make all sorts of noises. Inspite of trying hard I wouldn’t be able to study. We lived in a single studio. Then if I voiced out, I would be silenced saying this is not your house alone, learn to study like this. Then if I tried to find a library, it would be full giving me no place. We didn’t have the kind of study circles we do now. So I had to go back and study sometimes in the shower amidst all noise. 2. Some relative who takes advantage will come over and stay for indefinite period of time. If I tried to set boundaries I would be scolded. I had to suffer in silence praying and begging god to make this go away. 3. When I was a kid my toys and other things were taken away from me either by someone or given away to my cousins by my own parents. I used to cry in protest as we were poor and this was all I had but in vain. I would be scolded and silenced and said learn to share. I then stared hiding my toys, even those were taken away. If I cried I would be scolded to stop crying. I used to stand and watch helplessly as they took my stuff. Childhood was one horrible time with my mostly crying in silence watching others ruin my life and my caretakers not do anything. Recently I see this pattern even in my adult life. We are unable to get married because the divorce is stuck on the other side. It was long before I met him and it is still going on.It has been years now and we are waiting as I am truly helpless in this case. I do not get promoted until I can add another person to the role, I have done everything but due to cost issues they are not signing it off. Unless the client agrees to the cost it won’t happen and I won’t get promotion. Many many such instances are there. Small ones like if I want a dress it would be available all the time, but once I go to buy, it will go out of stock. If All my friends got exam leave and only I had to b g and beg and finally got half the time because of the rules in my office. I never get good flight tickets when I want. I never get what I want, even if I do it would be after a huge struggle and by the time I get it I am exhausted. I grew up learning life is hard and complicated. I don’t want to complain but I am doing it. But I truly want to release this pattern now that I see it and enjoy my life. The general theme like I said is I feel powerless over my own life. It is there in front of me, it comes to me but I cannot do anything to enjoy it. It only gets worse. Please help me. I am trying to make positive changes to m

    #149469
    Littlered
    Participant

    To my life. Forgive the typos, I am typing hard from my phone and emotions are running faster than I can type. I want to sincerely thank you for replying as I didn’t know what else to do. I have learned about the law of attraction and know why this is happening. Now I want to fix it. I always want to do something and fix my life so I am not a passive person. I am willing to do everything in my power to heal myself and my life. I want to know how. Most of the times my feeling during these kind of experience is that a tight elastic band is inside my head which is preventing me from expanding or feeling good. Something holds me back and I keep seeing doors closed. I can feel the resistance in my thinking. I can feel that band inside my head I don’t know what it is. I have migraine also because of this. I want to feel better for that I need to know what to do. Thanks a lot for being there.

    #149515
    Anonymous
    Guest

    Dear Littlerd:

    In reality there are things we are helpless about, things we cannot change: national and international political and economic conditions, the weather, natural disasters.. who we are born to, what other people choose to do.

    In reality, there are things we can change: how we spend some of the money we earn, who we choose to marry… to open the windows and let some cool air in, or not. And much more.

    What you describe is “learned helplessness”- that is, you experience helplessness regarding things you CAN change, in situations you do have the potential power to change.

    Learned helplessness happens in other animals who are capable of learning, not only in humans: when an animal or a person experiences adverse (harmful, unpleasant, distressing) circumstances, especially at a young age, and all of one’s efforts to change those circumstances fail, and this happens repeatedly, the animal/ person learns that they are incapable of changing adverse circumstances. Having learned that, the animal/ person no longer tries to change adverse circumstances, based on the strong belief that he/she will fail, and so, what would be the point of trying.

    Often the adverse circumstances seem easy to fix, to a person from the outside looking in, but to the person suffering learned helplessness, it feels impossible to change.

    When your parents gave away your toys, that was very distressing to you (adverse circumstance/situation). So, you tried to change that situation: you cried and otherwise expressed your distress, but failed (your parents kept giving away your toys). Then you hid your toys and failed again. You concluded: there is nothing I an do.

    When you experience this helplessness, you accept the concept that you have to endure the distressing circumstance. To endure it, you “freeze”- as animals do when facing danger they cannot escape, experiencing minimal energy, just enough to survive with least awareness to the distress, as tired and spaced out as possible.

    You asked: “how do I proceed?”-

    1. Make the distinction between circumstances you cannot change and situations you can change.

    2. In the situations you can change, take one step at a time changing it. You will build, over time, confidence in your ability to change adverse circumstances if you take the action. It will have to be taking the action even though you are discouraged, even though you don’t believe you can succeed, and even though you feel very tired, inattentive and “frozen”.

    * Regarding the Law of Attraction and your situation:

    you wrote: “I want a dress it would be available all the time, but once I go to buy, it will go out of stock.”-

    the dress out of stock when you attempt to buy it, is not a result of a law of attraction. It is only your focus on your failure to get what you want that causes you to perceive this occurrence as somewhat intentional, as if “The Universe” has caused this to happen to you personally because of your thoughts. Dresses go out of stock regardless of anyone’s expectations, thoughts and feelings (other than the actual business people making and re-stocking these dresses).

    Post again, anytime.

    anita

    #149587
    Littlered
    Participant

    Hi Anita, I read this twice just to digest it. Every word you wrote rings so true. I have been unconsciously freezing. That’s it! I often physically feel low on energy and most of the times I really feel tired to even think when faced with an obstacle and now I understand what it is. I used to wonder why don’t I get the energy or ideas to face them but now I know. And yes I accept that I no longer differentiate between things I can or cannot control. Somewhere I believe the world is out to get me. Learned helplessness, that’s what it is. And something that is learned can be unlearned too. I am gently trying to convince myself that things will go right for me too. I have started thinking about how I react and really noting where I felt helpless and what could I have done had I found the courage to act. I finally make sense of what my inner conflict is. The scars run deep and the emotions that rise are quite sad. But I have to overcome this and start living. One other thing, I found that my core belief that is very strong is bad things happen to me or if I hear something I automatically feel that out of this only harm will come to me or somehow I always expect bad news or bad stuff to happen to me. Any idea why? And how can I change this? I tried telling myself that is not true but it is more like instinct. And very strong. Would really like help with this.

    #149639
    Anonymous
    Guest

    Dear littlered:

    I am glad you found my last post to you useful.

    You wrote in your last post that a very strong core belief you have is that  “bad things happen to me… that out of this only harm will come to me…I always expect bad news or bad stuff to happen to me.”

    You asked: “Any idea why?” Yes, I have an idea why: it is, I believe, the combination of three things that happened in your childhood:

    1. Bad things did happen to you.

    2. No one helped you when those things happened.

    3. When you tried to help yourself, you were scolded and silenced.

    As a result of these three things, you “had to suffer in silence praying and begging god to make this go away…Childhood was one horrible time with my mostly crying in silence watching others ruin my life and my caretakers not do anything.”

    Bad things happening, no one helping/ protecting/ rescuing you and, on top of it, silencing your protests and your efforts to change the situation led, naturally, to your core belief that this is how it is and will continue to be. This core belief is a result of neuropathways being formed in your childhood (those Formative Years) based on your experiences then.

    You asked: “And how can I change this?”-

    There is only one way to change this core belief, and that is to form new experiences (and corresponding new neuropathways). We learn from our actual experience in life: nothing convinces us of anything meaningful unless we experience it.

    Regarding # 1 above: bad things happening- some bad things will continue to happen, as they do to everyone (only with your core belief, anything unfavorable as a dress not in stock, seems worse than it is). You can’t change unfavorable or bad things happening.

    Regarding #2: we do need other people’s help. You asked for help  on this thread, this is a good thing. Ask others for help, when it is in their power and ability to help and when you do need their help.

    Regarding #3: helping yourself- this is the big item for you to practice. There is no opportunity that is too small to be used for this practice. For example, you are in your apartment and it is too warm inside. Help yourself: open a window. Another example: your shoes feel uncomfortable. Help yourself and change shoes. One more example: you are in the company of a person who is covertly hostile to you. Help yourself: remove yourself from the presence of that person.

    Every time you practice not being silent, not being passive, you gain the necessary experience you need to help yourself, to initiate acts that will benefit you and protect you from harm and you build confidence that you are able to do these things. Use every opportunity and it will become a habit, over time.

    You wrote: “I always want to do something and fix my life so I am not a passive person. I am willing to do everything in my power to heal myself and my life. I want to know how.”-

    Practice.

    You wrote: “Most of the times my feeling during these kind of experience is that a tight elastic band is inside my head which is preventing me from expanding or feeling good… I can feel that band inside my head I don’t know what it is. I have migraine also…”

    As you practice, during a time of practicing this new behavior, you will feel that “tight elastic band”, unfortunately. I wish it wasn’t so, but I don’t make the rules. This is why most healing and changing mental/ behavioral habits are so very difficult: it doesn’t feel good!

    Over time, you will feel good, and at times during the initial practice you will feel good, but often and for a long time, you will not feel good. A thinking-trap is: I will change my mental/behavioral habit AFTER I feel good. No, you have to change it while you are not feeling good, while that tight elastic band is in your way.

    I have an idea what this tight-elastic-band may be, but enough for this post.

    Post again, anytime.

    anita

     

     

     

    #149643
    Littlered
    Participant

    Hi Anita,

    Priceless. Truly priceless words. You have dissected it so much in detail and given me so much guidance. I sincerely thank you from the bottom of my heart. I am going to ruminate on this tonight and start applying these. Like you have mentioned, I will start small. In fact I did make a small change earlier in the day, I said no to a colleague who borders on bullying me. It felt strange at first but I felt better. Like I can do something instead of enduring. I also went for a walk in the morning and this gave me slightly better energy for the day. Now I know why I become frustrated easily with telecallers whom I call for help with fixing any technical issue. I count on them to help me and when they can’t it triggers something from my past.

    Your words ‘I will change my mental/behavioral habit AFTER I feel good.’ so true!!! I always feel, once I do this or that then I can start to change my thinking. But now I know it requires ongoing effort.

    Out of curiosity, can you please share your thoughts on the tight elastic band thing that happens? I have been trying to understand what it is and I would really like to know. I am going to keep a diary note on what triggers it but I get it very intensely at times. It is almost tangible…and then it disappears? I would love to hear you out on this.

    Thanks once again.

     

    #149645
    Anonymous
    Guest

    Dear Littlered:

    You are very welcome. Ruminate, apply and post anytime. I am here.

    As far as the tight elastic band (“a tight elastic band is inside my head… I can feel that band inside my head I don’t know what it is. I have migraine also because of this…I get it very intensely at times. It is almost tangible…and then it disappears?”)-

    I think it is intense anger. I do not underestimate the anger of a little girl watching her toys being given away.

    I do not underestimate the anger of a little girl in distress, and then on top of her distress being ignored, not being validated and not attended to, on top of that, being scolded for trying to help yourself, your little power taken away until you have nothing left, and you stand there suffering, helpless.

    That anger is tangible, I believe. It causes some physiological/ chemical processes in your brain and body, such as, maybe, blood vessels constricting and less oxygen reaching parts of the brain, leading to migraines.

    anita

    #149649
    Littlered
    Participant

    Mind = Blown with this statement “your little power taken away until you have nothing left, and you stand there suffering, helpless.” This is the summary of my life! That is exactly what I am trying to convey with so many words. Tears are streaming down my face as I type as someone for the first time has actually understood the exact thing that I feel. Funny how my own blood relatives couldn’t see this. Take any situation in my life until now right from as recent as yesterday or as old as my memory can take me, these words will sum up each and every situation, big or small. This is exactly what I felt when I was giving you examples earlier, I have plenty more, with the things I have endured, I wouldn’t ever want to relive my childhood ever. I was looking at old photo albums last week and I saw that none of my pictures are smiling. I look like I am in some kind of physical pain. And the very same people tell me look how grumpy you were, never smiling. Why couldn’t you be a happy kid? I also got a lot of that hand gesture when I spoke where the palm is outstretched like stop.. Anyway, I digress.

    So looking ahead now, I finally feel validated and acknowledged. Like I am allowed to feel these things. Like I matter too.

    I am now going to take all your notes and sit with them and start slowly and very gently try to understand and apply these. I know a lot of feeling will come up and I know I am not lost anymore. I will update this post as I make progress.

    Thank you once again for being there.

    Littlered

     

    #149723
    Anonymous
    Guest

    Dear Littlered:

    What a powerful post! I didn’t know you posted this one until a few moments ago. A powerful share. I hope you feel comfortable to post here, on your thread (and/or start a new one) anytime. I will be glad to reply for as long as you find it helpful to you. No time/length limit per thread.

    anita

    #149733
    Littlered
    Participant

    Thank you so much! I will definitely keep posting more and keep updating you as and when I feel I have made progress. I might start a new thread depending on what comes up. A fact about me, I am a skincare/beauty fan so I know quite a bit about that. If the pores in the skin become clogged, we apply AHA/BHA on it so all the gunk comes out. Then we see how it surfaces and then deal with it by applying proper products. I feel that I have applied something similar inside me by reaching out for help. The gunk is coming out 🙂 Today I felt a lot of scenes from my younger days come up(random) where I remembered a lot of yelling at home. I used to stand and watch and not get involved because if I did I would be yelled at too. I don’t remember why they are coming up now but they are specific instances of shouting while I hid in the corner and cried or stared listlessly. Once I put my head in my tiny hands of age 4/5 and sat trying to make it go away. Still processing this. I have to see what is it and how to gently change it. But I am not alone, I can reach out here and I will. Thanks a ton for being there, for listening.

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