Working On Past Emotional Patterns

We all have issues. Some of our issues are hidden to us, and some we’re aware of. When we come up against challenges or problems in life it usually triggers an area where we need some personal growth. That’s our journey.

Work With Your Triggers

A trigger is something that causes you to have an emotional reaction, or stimulates emotional or physical desires. Everyone has triggers—they’re natural. Sights, sounds, smells, tastes or textures may awaken a desire or remind us of something. Words and actions can also be triggers. Often triggers are connected to bad memories or an experience of pain.

When our emotions get out of control, we may feel enraged. When we want to yell and scream and throw things, we’ve been triggered by something. Although it could be just the immediate experience, often it’s more than that. Looking for the connection between your current emotions and past emotional experiences can help you see patterns in your life. Identifying patterns is helpful in discovering ways to change your thought processes and reactions so they’re more beneficial to you.

Ask the Right Questions

Self-evaluation, talking with wise people, and seeking understanding are good places to start your journey. Here are some questions that you might ask yourself from time to time, to gain a better understanding of what you might need to work on.

Growth Through Difficulties

It’s normal to struggle and have difficult situations in life. That’s how we grow. We have this tendency to think that everything should be good, happy, and easy all the time. We wish for a pain free life, but that’s just the part of our self that’s seeking balance.

If you accept struggle as the catalyst that it’s meant to be, you can use it to your benefit. You have the power to be the victor over the obstacles in your path. There’s also a world full of people willing to help you. Please go to the next topic for helpful resources for your journey of self-healing.

	Richard & Mari Curry have been Blessed in married since December 2005 and have four children. They love working together as a team and are passionate about caring for others, especially in the realm of marriage development. After Mari received her Masters of Divinity from Cheongshim Theological Seminary, she and Richard served as co-pastors in Florida. Since then, they moved to New Jersey and over the years have happily served in a variety of ministry roles from music to education. All the while, working together to serve the Blessed Marriage Project and now High Noon Couples. They were a part of the founding team in 2013 and have been a part of it ever since. They currently serve as the directors of Highnoon Couples. They love the Energize! Retreats because they help realize True Parent’s desire for healthy couples and reminds us of Heavenly Parent’s love and hope for us all! Contact Mari at: mari@kr.highnoon.org
	Crescentia & Leighton DeGoede have been Blessed in married since October 2010, and have three children. Crescentia is currently serving as the District Pastor of district 3 and local pastor of the Clifton Family Church. Previously Crescentia was the Director of the National Blessing and Family Ministry of FFWPU for six years. Both Leighton and Crescentia currently serve as Matching Supporters. Prioritizing their marriage, while juggling children, work, and community service has been an exciting challenge. But they continue to find that the more they invest in their marriage, the more they have to give in all areas of their lives. They love giving other couples the opportunity to infuse their marriages with love deposits through marriage enrichment programs.
	Christoph & Lena Yasutake have been Blessed in marriage since April 2002 and have three teenagers. They are both equally passionate about marriage education and helping blessed couples create happy and healthy families. The Energize! Retreats are one of their favorite ways to share this passion. They served in the Young Couples ministry for six years and are frequent guest speakers at Blessing Workshops.
	Kate Pugnoli has served as the Community Liaison and is also responsible for generating our monthly newsletter. A former journalist, she has a Masters of Religious Education from the Unification Theological Seminary where she took focused her studies on counseling courses. She has also had experience facilitating small groups. The mother of two sons, now Blessed in marriage, she lives in Tucson, AZ with her husband Simon Herbert. She is committed to working with the Blessed Marriage Project in hopes that marriage enrichment will be available to communities across the country and particularly to bring the Energize! Couples Retreat to as many couples as possible.