The house I inhabit

Our daily routine and the way we relate to each other are a reflection of the inner house we inhabit.

We shape our lives based on our unconscious beliefs, which, like the invisible foundations of a house, determine its shape and state of "health." This is our psychic structure, and it is formed by our unconscious beliefs about "who I am," "what place I occupy in my family/in the world," "what people are like," "what the world is like." This structure is necessary and is what makes each of us radically unique and unrepeatable, and therefore precious.

However, some parts of our structure can lead us to feel, at a given moment or situation, that, instead of a home, I am inhabiting a prison. This can manifest itself in various ways, from feeling empty even though "I lack nothing," to experiencing anguish, fear, anger, frustration, claustrophobia, or even finding ourselves in situations that repeat themselves over and over again, without being able to avoid them.

There's nothing wrong or right about this. Nevertheless, I think it's important to understand that mental health, like physical health, can go through ups and downs and must be cared for. Each of us, with our precious structure, faces changes and challenges. These sometimes manifest themselves in the form of major catastrophes; other times, it's difficult to register the changes because our environment makes them invisible, although in our deepest selves we perceive that "something is missing, but I don't know what." We are exposed to the shocks of reality, and these can damage parts that were once healthy or reopen wounds that were there, even if we didn't notice them.

With this short text, I invite you to reflect on the (internal) world you are inhabiting.

How are you relating to others? What makes you angry? How much do you manage to validate your anger, frustrations, sadness, joys, and triumphs? How much do you criticize yourself? Can you tell the difference when something is your responsibility and when it isn't? Do you criticize and punish yourself for things that aren't your responsibility? Do you think you're overly harsh or demanding of yourself?

The experience of pain, even if unpleasant, opens the doors to growth and personal evolution if we allow ourselves to navigate it and let it transform us.

Lic. Noelia Dalbert