Greetings Global Villagers:
All this week we have been talking about triggers. As a reminder, Marcia Perkins-Reed, the author of Thriving in Transition, declared that we are always in transition!!
In order to live our most effective lives, we must learn how to transition even after we have experienced painful and traumatic events. On last Thriving-In-Transition Thursday, we discussed various ways of operating at The New Zero by going with the flow of change. One of those ways is to allow for unpredictability.
What are the correlations of being triggered by past events to allowing for unpredictability to thriving in transition? I'm glad you've asked!! Perkins-Reed identified the Coper, which are those of us who have "chosen immature and maladaptive strategies" [to manage life. Also, Copers are those of us who] don't believe that we have any other choice, but to react as we have in the past" (p. 32).
We are triggered during unpredictable occurrences in our lives. Like I've shared on this Introspective Tuesday, I never intended to burst into tears when I smelled oregano for the first time in 7 years. It was an unpredictable occurrence. On the one hand, I could have 'coped' by choosing the immature strategy of never using or eating food seasoned with oregano again because of my initial reaction and how much it reminded me of my mother. On the other hand, I could have 'thrived' by allowing myself to transition from a place of grief and loss to a place of openness and freedom. I chose the latter. At that time, I chose to allow myself to cry, experience the sense of loss, and talk about my pain with my friend. Currently, I am thriving; I am free to eat food seasoned with oregano with no adverse feelings.
Are you a Coper? How do you handle your triggers? Do you go with the flow of unpredictable occurrences? Do you perceive that you have options? Just some food for thought...
Why?
Because you have the greatness to thrive in transition!!
Ms. Latisha, I so relate to your post. I have learned that choosing another way to "cope" is a choice. Sometimes our learned behaviors are so pervasive and below our own radar that we don't even realize that how we deal with triggers is unhealthy. Thanks for the pulling the cover back on this topic.
ReplyDeleteHi SandraPrice3:
ReplyDeleteNo, thank you!! I am glad that I was able to help in any capacity!! I am still assessing how I respond to life transitions. We all sharpen our skills as we mature in the things of life.