Sadhguru on How to Overcome Trauma: The Power Is Within You

We all experience difficult situations. Sometimes others hurt us, abuse us, or treat us in a poor manner. But the question here is what we do with that experience. Spiritual guru Sadhguru says that what happens to us is perhaps not our choice, but how we react is entirely our choice. We can't control others from saying or doing something that could hurt us. But we can control how we bear it within ourselves.

Trauma is Not What Occurs: It's What We Construct Within

Sadhguru describes that it is not possible for someone to cause trauma for you. They may inflict pain on your body or mind, but we construct the trauma in our minds by doing the same thing repeatedly. Let's say someone pecks you with a small stone. That's the act of hurting you. But if you keep thinking about it, feeding it with emotions, and building on it, you create an avalanche of suffering inside. That is what trauma turns into—not the rock, but the emotional avalanche you inflict upon yourself.

Make the Choice to Be Kind to Yourself

You have a choice of whether you hold one moment of pain for the rest of your life or release it. The world may throw stones, but you can refuse to create a mountain from the stones. With awareness and inner balance, you can refuse to feed that hurt. Instead, opt to be kind and gentle with yourself.

The Real Victim Is the One Who Hurts Others

Once you start healing and getting some clarity, you will understand the true individual to pity is the one who wounded you. They have no idea about the deeper truths of life. Don't allow their naivety to ruin your peace.

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You can heal from trauma—not by altering the past, but by altering your reaction.