Summary: You might not realise it, but the ongoing effects of bullying or a painful experience could be influencing how you behave today even if the situation was long-since resolved, or happened decades ago. Because when we react to something in the present, the strength of our reaction can be influenced by something that happened to us previously - like echoes of the past. This podcast was inspired by Tamworth Grice, who left us a wonderful voicemail describing a recent experience where she was able to uncover what was driving the emotional intensity behind her response to a situation - the ongoing effects of childhood bullying - and diffuse it! We've all had experiences of hurt & difficulty: whether it was a childhood experience, an embarrassing situation, being bullied or some other painful moment. Particularly (but not exclusively) when they happen early on in our lives, these distressing events can have an ongoing impact on us that we may not be aware of. Echoes of the past can shape our beliefs, influence our decisions & add to the level of emotion we feel when we have a new experience that is somehow similar or unconsciously triggers our unresolved feelings about a previous hurt. When we start to become aware that our reactions are out of proportion to the particular situation we're facing, or when we are confused about how we are feeling/reacting, we can start to explore what might be behind the emotional intensity in order to understand it, reduce the impact it has on us and be able to move on. Join Paul & Sam as they discuss some of the ways in which they have reframed some of their painful past experiences, including the 5 Whys of Exploration that worked so well for Tamworth! Bullying is a serious and widespread problem that can occur in any context in which human beings interact with each other. If you are experiencing bullying of any form, there are many organisations available for support - including Bullying UK and Stop Bullying (US).
