Protecting yourself is like wearing a warm coat when it is cold outside. But if you keep that heavy coat on even when the sun is shining and all your friends are playing outside, you will feel too hot and won’t be able to run and jump! Sometimes, we stay inside our “turtle shell” because we are afraid of a shadow that isn’t even a real monster.
Why This Happens: Your subconscious mind has a “Positive Intention” to keep you safe based on past “uneducated comprehensions”. If you were hurt long ago, a “Part” of your mind might still be using an old, rigid defense to protect you today. This creates a “stagnant” situation where you rely on untrained physical memory to avoid any risk, even when there is no real danger.
How to Fix It: You need to talk to your “Protective Part” of your mind through. Ask that part what it is trying to do for you and thank it for its help. Then, ask if it is willing to try “Three New Ways” to keep you safe while still letting you go out and play in the world.
Context : British researcher Stephen Williams described “Rust-out” as the result of having too little challenge or “stretch” in your life. While “strain” is bad, avoiding all pressure leads to boredom and a lack of growth. By understanding your “projections,” you can choose to move from a reactive “turtle” state into a deliberate choice state.
