Do You Ever Get Triggered?

I’m willing to bet that, like me, you experience triggers because you’re human.

Triggers occur when someone or something causes us to react negatively. For years, I avoided triggers and often blamed others or the situation for my negative reactions. However, I’ve come to realise that being triggered can actually be a positive thing because it presents an opportunity for self-reflection.

During a coaching call with Tracy Secombe, a Farm Owners Academy Coach & Director of Well-being, she helped me understand this concept.

I shared with her a situation that had deeply triggered me, involving someone with a dominant personality, leaving me feeling intimidated and afraid to speak up for myself – let’s call them ‘Billy’. At the beginning of our conversation, I vented my frustration and placed all the blame on the other person.

Tracy posed a simple yet powerful question to me: “Why is this showing up for you, Andrew, and what do you need to learn from this?”

I must admit that I was initially taken aback by the question. Until then, I had never really considered the underlying reasons behind my triggers. Tracy further asked if similar situations had occurred in the past, and I recounted several instances.

Through our discussion, Tracy helped me recognise that my fear of confronting dominant individuals stemmed from my relationship with my father. As a child, I often felt intimidated by him and hesitated to assert myself.

Tracy guided me to see that this trigger presented an opportunity for growth and encouraged me to schedule a phone call to ‘Billy’ where I could stand up for myself.

Although I was terrified, I firmly believe in the saying, “Feel the fear and do it anyway.”

After the phone call, I experienced an overwhelming sense of liberation, and since then, the triggering issue has not resurfaced. I no longer fear standing up for myself.

Understanding and acknowledging our triggers is crucial. It’s important to realise that these triggers stem from our unresolved issues rather than being solely the fault of others.

Ironically, the people who frustrate and annoy us the most often serve as our greatest teachers. It’s undoubtedly challenging, but we should be grateful to them for helping us confront our internal struggles.

I’m aware that this blog post may even trigger some readers; if that’s the case, I see it as a positive outcome.

Remember, triggers are opportunities for growth. So embrace them, explore their origins, and embark on a journey of self-discovery.

Wishing you an excellent day!

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