“If we get to the core of it and figure out what happened with that trauma and process through that trauma, then you’ll start to see that the trigger will either have a lot less weight to it because you’re not giving it as many interpretations if any at all.”

In this episode, Nick dives into the concepts of traumas, triggers, and interpretations, exploring their impact on our lives, and emphasizes the importance of self-awareness and processing traumas to gain a deeper understanding of triggers and interpretations.

What to listen for:

Nick challenges common misconceptions about trauma, explaining that it goes beyond major incidents and can result from smaller, unexpected experiences.

Explore how our bodies instinctively react to traumas, often triggering fight, flight, or freeze responses before our conscious mind kicks in.

Triggers can resurface, highlighting the need to recognize and address them for personal growth.

Learn how self-awareness plays a crucial role in understanding and processing triggers, allowing individuals to trace them back to their core traumas.

Interpretations add the weight to triggers can influence our emotional responses and shaping the stories we tell ourselves.

“Traumas come in all shapes and all sizes, and what happens from those traumas and those situations will make our body have a reaction to it. Most times, almost all of the time, that body reaction is going to happen before you mentally react or before you can say anything. It’s just a jarring thing that happens where your body goes into a fight, flight, or freeze.”

Beyond major incidents, traumas can stem from various experiences.

Instinctive responses, such as fight, flight, or freeze, occur before conscious mental reactions.

We can and must acknowledge the diversity of traumas and understand the body’s initial responses.

“Trauma is going to move you or freeze you no matter what you want to do. Now, you can do something with it after the fact, but the body’s reaction is still going to happen the way that it’s going to happen.”

The body’s reaction to trauma is involuntary and occurs independently of one’s conscious control.

Trauma can propel individuals into action or immobilize them, emphasizing its potent influence on behavior.

Acceptance that despite personal intentions, the body’s response to trauma is a natural and automatic occurrence.

“Being self-aware, which is a beautiful thing and also a fucking pain in the ass at times. It’s like you can’t not see the things once you’re really self-aware. When I see that my triggers are starting to come up, I can see the different experiences that have stacked upon themselves.”

Acknowledging the positive aspect of self-awareness while highlighting its sometimes challenging nature.

Self-awareness unveils truths that cannot be ignored, offering a deeper understanding of oneself.

How to balance the joys and difficulties of heightened self-awareness in personal growth and development.

About Nick McGowan

Nick is all about mental health and self-mastery. He works daily to manage his mindset and emotions and helps others do the same. His journey is one of resilience—he’s owned multiple companies, overcome addiction, and bounced back stronger after life’s toughest challenges. With over 20 years of experience in sales and marketing, Nick has helped purpose-driven businesses grow and make a real impact. He’s got a creative spark, a ton of tenacity, and a passion for helping others navigate both personal and professional growth.

www.linkedin.com/in/thenickmcgowan

Resources:

Interested in starting your own podcast or need help with one you already have? Send Nick an email or schedule a time to discuss your podcast today!

Thank you for listening!

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