Journey of Self-Discovery During COVID-19

When seat belts were mandated, I rebelled at first but got into the rhythm of wearing them. When masks were recommended, I rebelled too. Why did I do this? This recently took me on a journey of self-discovery.

There is a rebel inside of me that I cannot deny. When I track it back in time, it probably started when I was 15 years old and trying to be my own person. At the time I was extremely close to my parents and basically did everything they wanted of me, but then I started to see how Human they were and I began the breaking away process.

It was interesting how I dealt with things then, and still do to some extent today, where I act out. At that age I began doing stupid shit and even after they called me on my bullshit, I still fought them and all along knowing they were right, but it was the principle I was fighting for – my independence.

I thought I had outgrown this tendency when I became sober and said my “I’m sorry’s to the people I did wrong to, hoping that that would lay to rest my rebelliousness. But, when I found myself refusing to dawn a mask during this COVID-19 crisis, I realized that the rebel in me was still there.

Why do I want to be my own person? Why do I want to not be a follower? Why risk my life and the lives of others because I have to be my own person? These were the thoughts that kept swirling around my head.

I loved the little games I played to keep my face on display for all to see. In a crowd, I would hold my breath or do the social distancing thing or both. I was playing a teenager’s game and in this day and age, the stakes are very high.

Moving my ego to the side, I decided to dawn the mask and go into the grocery store for a few essentials. In doing so I realized that I was actually in the minority since most people didn’t wear any. This made me chuckle. I wanted to be different and wearing a mask actually made it so.

Well, you live and learn – that’s for sure.

My intention is to be safe and be supportive to others from now on. Though I really do like the rebellious side of me for good reason.

Neuro-Linguistic Programming

According to NLP – Neuro-Linguistic Programming, which is a therapy approach that we widely use in our program at Basic Steps, there are many sub-personalities that tend to run us. The rebel is one of them. In working with my rebel, I learned that this part of my personality pushed me to try new things, be different, take some chances (within reason). If it wasn’t for my rebel, I would have never studied Spiritual Psychology and had probably opted to do Psychoanalysis or something like that. I love practicing a blend of Clinical and Spiritual because it provides me with a full picture of the whole person, not just their thoughts or their emotions, but all of them, and as it follows – all of me.

There are hundreds of sub-personalities that are universal. The Critic, The Addict, Righteousness, and the Pessimist tend to top the list. In working with these aspects, we take better control of our actions. Though, what I learned from my recent actions, my Rebel needed to have a little talking to.

The point of this article is to show you that there are many psychological approaches that can be of help to you. As a therapist it is important too, number one, self-heal so you can be of better service to others, and number two, go with your intuition. There are hundreds of tools psychological tools to use but using the proper one for the proper situation is what really matters.

Please be safe, during this very trying time.

Compassionate Care is Always Available

There are many more tools and strategies you can use in your pursuit of happiness. Here is where we come in. Contact us at Basic Steps Mental Health and let us support and educate you on this journey back to your loving heart center. Imagine living a heart-centered life, regardless of what is happening externally. We’d love to be of help.

For 25 years, Dr. Scott Alpert, the clinical director of Basic Steps Mental Health, has treated over 7,000 people with mental health and addiction problems, using a Psychological approach that mixes and matches ten of the top approaches used in the industry.  We are here virtually and in-person to help you get through this COVID-19 pandemic and many other difficulties you may be experiencing.

May you and yours remain happy and healthy,