What Does History Require of Us?
What Does History Require of Us?
Recently as I traveled through a rich historical area, I was fascinated and a bit overwhelmed by the amount of history surrounding me. I found my mind wanting to absorb and understand how these pieces of our past were connected to each other and me. As I considered what is required for enhanced mental health, I found both acknowledgement and acceptance of our history as essential elements to healing.
Acknowledgment. We have heard the adage many times that we cannot change what we do not acknowledge. We are not required to agree that what we have experienced is just, deserved, or appropriate; however, it does require recognition as a part of our history. Instead of hiding, denying, or ignoring our experiences, we need to give a nod to the part our past has had a role to play in arriving in our present day. This may require setting aside time to identify what we have been exposed to or have experienced throughout our lives. It may require us to consider the root experiences that propel us to respond to triggers or stimuli.
Acceptance. We must look at our history and accept its presence.This may allow our past situations and experiences to become more like a friend or foe residing in our perimeter. It can be present in our past without shifting our future. Whether good or bad, these experiences have weight in our personal development and functioning. Once we accept that our history is just that - our history, our story, our past narrative, we can create a space between our history and our current selves. This space allows an opportunity to challenge the thoughts, feelings, and actions stemming from our history. Acceptance can become a superpower for each of us. We can view the trauma of our past without bringing it forward as an active participant in our future.
If we do not take the opportunity to acknowledge or accept our history, we are more likely to repeat the same dysfunction. Both acceptance and acknowledgment may seem daunting, but they allow space between ourselves and our trauma to change our thoughts, views, ownerships, and responses. It allows an ability to release the history that we may have been trying to suppress. It allows us the ability to discern the unhealthy pieces of our past and to create a new healthy path forward.
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