Takeaway: Our brains overgeneralize and apply learnings to many situations. Trauma brings us to the past and we view current moments from past lenses. Practicing presence brings us to the now and allows us to take in new information that leads to healing and change.

Action: Understand your history and patterns. Talk to a trusted family member or friend about early life context.

Practice (3:50): I'm in Memory, Hand on heart, say to self, "This situation reminds me of what I experienced in the past when ____________." Follow with favorite self compassion statement. (Exercise taken from Unlocking the Emotional Brain by Bruce Ecker.)

Journal & Thought Prompts: What do you already understand about your history and patterns? What have you learned through your experiences that is no longer true? Is there an outside perspective who can help here?

“By becoming present - we can start to train our brain to notice that things are different now - these can be tiny moments of healing.”