What happens if I don’t think about what happened?

If I don’t make space for or ignore the emotion or bad memory when it comes up, it will go away, right? I wish I could tell you yes. It is natural to desire the easiest way out, to not feel any pain. However, I have a sign in my office that reads: “Its about the journey, not the destination”. The growth and understanding of yourself that comes from going through the journey rather than immediately getting to the destination is what it is all about.

By pushing emotions down or ignoring them all together, you are unfortunately creating the opposite effect of what you are hoping. While in the immediate moment, your goal of not experiencing pain is possible, emotions have to come out at some point. I’ll give you a few examples of what this looks like if you push them down and don’t make space for them as they come up:

Have you ever experienced a smell, sight, sound, touch, or taste that reminds you of something from the past? One example would be the smell of a specific recipe that reminds you of your grandma and the wonderful memories you have with her. The smell brings about warm emotions and the love you have for her. ​