Today’s podcast speaks to the importance of being able to acknowledge and recognize when we’ve had a measured or healthy response to something. Both accountability and mercy are important for spiritual health. The second half of the podcast focuses on being careful what we expose ourselves to on social media. If we were not had an event then we don’t need to insert our ourselves there retroactively by watching traumatic videos of that event. We have to maintain balance both within and without.

Today’s podcast answers a question from someone who is disheartened and confused as to why they keep experiencing powerful triggers and emotional reactions to certain situations when they thought they did all of the healing work. We often don’t realize, that a part of our brain didn’t get the memo, that it’s OK to react differently to things and that we have the power to choose how we respond to something and what we make it to be. Once the heavy lifting of the healing work is done, we have so much more freedom to change the old script we have been following and to write a new one.

Today’s podcast answers a question from someone who’s been through a very difficult ordeal in their parish setting. Often times in these situations, confusion and hurt abound. Knowing when it’s okay to walk away and start new somewhere can be a difficult decision. Traumatic experiences are profoundly disempowering. Part of the healing process is becoming empowered. It’s okay to use God’s gift of free will and follow our dignity.

Today’s podcast is a brief discussion on how traumatic experiences can be passed down. Often those on the healing path have gone to great lengths to make sure their children never experience what they did. However, often to our dismay, we might notice our kids showing the same struggles we did. This is because our painful experiences can get passed down genetically. This can be a painful realization for a parent. However, there are also positives. What is passed down can be changed.

Today’s podcast answers a question from someone who has been very very confused by the discrepancy between the memory of their experiences and what their body is telling them. This can often lead us to doubt ourselves and make us believe and feel that something is wrong with us. When our body is telling us a story we do not understand or have memory of, it can feel very frightening. Leaning into what our body is telling us requires counseling and making sure we are being patient and gentle with ourselves, and also having a strong therapeutic relationship.