Fairy Thought

When you face danger or frustration, do you regress in age? When as children we did not get our way, when we were not heard, we pouted, stomped and probably slammed a door. When was the last time you turned on your heel or slammed your hands on a table? In an instant, you, an able bodied, competent adult, can become a fourteen year old, a nine year old or a five year old, gripped by the hands of terror. You are regressing back to the time when you first had a similar experience. When you are mentally or emotionally a terrorized child, you must handle yourself with compassion.

When children are afraid, they yearn for a mother, father, grandmother or some other big person to protect them. The same thing happens when an adult regresses. If we feel that comfort is not available, we will do as an adult what we did as a child. We will cry. We will cower. We will run for cover. Adults who regress beat up on themselves. They feel ashamed or embarrassed. They make excuses for their behavior, and ultimately they miss the point. What you did not handle or complete as a child, you will handle and complete as an adult.

We are all little people who grew into big bodies. The challenge we face as adults is to resist the tendency to beat up on ourselves when we act out. Rather, take a moment to soothe and comfort the little you inside of the big you. Do for yourself today what was not done for you yesterday. In this way, you will complete your unfinished business.