Traditions
Tonight’s Her Growth Collective is all about Traditions. Around the holidays, we hear a lot about family traditions to celebrate the blessing of family and time together. Last week, I wrote about how we can revisit music like an old friend. Traditions can also serve as a way to revisit the past, giving us the comfort and connection we crave.
But what happens when there are unhealthy traditions passed down from generation to generation? How do you break free from traditions that are causing harm? How do you avoid falling into the familiar and often comfortable routine of family traditions that can be toxic to your wellbeing and mental health?
I used to hear the words “generational curse” and think it was nonsense, since it sounded like something you read about in fantasies and fairytales. The more I peel back the layers on who I am, the more I realize that we are all truly a product of our pasts, both our own past and those that came before us.
Traditions continue to be passed down whether we notice them or not, often with the best of intentions. Most people didn’t want to pass down the hurts that were inflicted on us, but if we never heal and make changes, history is bound to repeat itself over and over again.
Research has even shown how trauma experienced by one generation can actually affect how DNA is expressed in future generations (known as the process of epigenetics). If trauma can add or remove chemical tags from our DNA, it’s not hard to assume that the patterns and behaviors we create can easily be passed on from one generation to the next.
If you are noticing family traditions that you want to break free from, you aren’t alone. I saw a post earlier today that said, “you may be the first person in your family to go to therapy and that’s OK.” It reminded me how scary it can be to break out of the norm your family or circle of influence has created but it can be the thing that helps change not only your future but future generations to come. Let authentic connection and healing be a tradition you can pass on. You are worth it.
This post is written in partnership with #HerGrowthCollective, encouraging women to walk the path of self-development together.
