PART II - YOU

Life Experiences

Our journey through life is filled with experiences, good and bad, that contribute to how we see the world, and how we interact with each other. These experiences can reinforce or overwhelm patterns of behavior we have previously developed. 

Sometimes we are very aware of how a life experience has affected us and what we do in response to it. For example, a woman who has been date-raped would typically be extremely cautious in dating and trusting other men, and may have her view of all men changed drastically.

This is unfortunate but understandable. (However, anyone who has had such an intensely bad experience should seek professional one-to-one counseling, as most such traumas can be treated successfully and should not be an excuse for continued anti-social behavior.)

For the most part, however, our life experiences are not so dramatic, and the impacts are assimilated and affect us on the subconscious level. For example, a person who wore hand-me-downs as a child and was criticized, however mildly, by other kids, may be fastidious about their wardrobe as an adult. 

This behavior may simply be a reaction to the childhood experience, but the person may not be consciously aware of the behavior or the reason for it.

What life experiences have influenced your behaviors or attitudes? How do you feel about what you’ve written? What impact do you see on your marriage?