Negative Conditioning

Overcoming Depression
Wounded Child WithinAnxiety

To a greater or lesser degree, we’re all burdened by negative conditioning. Often with the best intentions, our parents or teachers have passed their fears, limitations and prejudices on to the next generation.

Negative conditioning comes in many forms: in words, looks, gestures and body language. The looks and gestures imply messages more powerful than words – such as “you’re not good enough”, “we don’t take her seriously”, “he’s not worth it”, or “you’re so stupid”.

These words, gestures and the toxic messages they communicate cause so much damage. Eventually we may BELIEVE that we’re not worth listening to, that we’ll never “make it” or that we’ve nothing of value to contribute; beliefs that become lodged in our subconscious mind, forming the faulty foundation from which we live our lives. In this way, they have a very damaging effect on our sense of self worth and confidence; they can lead to depression, or even despair.

Often we believe that these negative self beliefs are coming from ourselves, but ALWAYS there’s another voice behind these messages even if it goes back many years. We can challenge such negative conditioning by asking: “From whom did these put-downs originally come?” “Who TOLD you that you weren’t good enough?”, “Not good enough for WHOM?”, “Do you really need to go on listening to these damaging messages?”

When people become aware of old negative conditioning they can become very angry. It’s important to release this anger in neutral ways so as not to continue the cycle of blame and retribution. In discarding such beliefs and in uncovering our true inner nature, we set free so much energy. It then becomes profoundly fulfilling for us to live our lives from the strong foundation of our true authentic selves.

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