Our arrival at the Louvre was exciting. We had one major objective in mind and that was to see the Mona Lisa. First, we decided to view everything else the world’s most famous museum offered. At the end of the day, the moment arrived and without disappointment. The Mona Lisa was superlative. In fact, we had the her all to ourselves. I can say that it was smaller that I thought it would be, that it was available to us, and that the eyes followed us at every angle of approach. There is one thing I cannot tell you about the Mona Lisa, and that is the specific color of the frame, or its thickness. However, the frame did not matter, it was not the draw. It was what was within the border that captivated us, the experience. The painting.
We have all forms of frames in our homes and offices. They provide a helpful border to a painting, a family picture, a medal, a certification. Frames serve a purpose, giving an item a shape, for example; a human skeleton, a house, a picture. They highlight what lies within the frame. The thing framed within those borders however is what is most important because in many ways they highlight a key life experience.
Life experiences often illustrate how we view our reality on a daily basis, as a sort of emotional lens. It could be a very real existential issue, a philosophy, an ideology, our education, a traumatic event, cultural mores, a smell, personal likes and dislikes. Call these experiences of reference. We view our world and its contents based upon a multitude of previous life situations, positive and negative, happy, painful, neutral.
Mental health concerns often come from hurtful experiences, for example; anxiety, depression, various phobias, anger, fear, worry, trust concerns, a defeat, grief, and a host of others. The experience of reference for anxiety may either be a traumatic event or modeling from a parent, depression from a hurt, a loss, a betrayal, a violation of sorts, a phobia from a previous frightening experience. Generally, our daily experiences and how we view our existential reality are affected by something previous. My experience with the Mona Lisa was very positive. I have recounted that experience with others who have not seen it, hopefully encouraging them to go the Louvre.
When we wake up in the morning and enter our day with all that it offers, our senses, memory, thoughts, integrate into our experiences at some point. Some are triggers that remind us of past events. For example, when I go out my door in winter, and begin to walk down the steps, I might be reminded of my wife falling down those slippery icy steps the previous winter. However, a trigger can be removed. As a result of my wife’s fall, we took precautions to make sure that that could not happen again. As a result, we rewrote the previous narrative. Given the context of painful memories that beleaguer us, it is helpful to reshape them by changing the story. This can open a pathway forward to mental wellness.
Therapists help trauma victims rewrite their painful memories by carefully, and sensitively talking about the experience. The concern is not to retraumatize, or reinjure, but to desensitize and lessen the pain by carefully talking about the traumatic event. When we gently accomplish this, a new, helpful, hopeful, narrative will in part be formed. The life memory will not disappear, but the power and pain of that previous hurtful experience will be greatly decreased so that life events will be viewed in a healthier way. The ability to walk through previous trauma, will be accomplished when the therapist carefully grounds the client when the experience becomes too painful. This may involve pausing the conversation, and in preparing the client as they move forward. Deep breathing exercises are crucial whenever the client becomes hypervigilant.
The Holy Spirit is our best hope in our desire to rewrite a narrative from a previous painful existence. He becomes the greatest grounding agent. Christian clients can call upon His power when they make this journey to healing from past memories with a therapist. His peace empowers a client to feel a strength they can attain no where else. Jesus said;
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27
This is a peace within our grasp no matter the pain we feel, and with it a new way of living and responding to our current and future reality. The HS offers a lasting grounding reality.
