Generational curses, Generation patterns, Ancestral Sin; all mean a similar thing. It is an influential habit that is passed on for many generations. For centuries destructive and unhealthy patterns have continued to manifest, but you can embody and pass on healthy behaviors when mindful.
When we flick through baby photos of ourselves or even have a baby of our own, we identify which physical traits look like which parent. But what we don't do is recognize the generational curses that have been continually handed down from generation to generation. Bringing awareness to these patterns is vital in stopping the cycle from being passed on.
Our immediate family, the people we spend the most time with, dramatically influences our development. This has been the understanding for eras, and the belief comes from an Old Testament passage that says God "punishes the children and their children for the sins of the fathers to the third and fourth generation."
If you look at your life now, you can identify the patterns of behaviors you have inherited from your family, whether good or bad. It is without a doubt that wounded people will continue to wound and hurt others. It is up to the individual to heal and influence the children that they raise.
Unfortunately, when we look at the young adults in today's modern history, countless harmful generational patterns have been passed on. Parents have and continue to raise their children around substance abuse, domestic abuse, mental illness and even racist or sexist views. A typical generation pattern is a divorce. Research has shown that divorce and separation can cause children to be twice as likely to have emotional, behavioral, social and academic problems.
Some people grew up in very toxic households and watched their parents fight until they divorced. Those people have then grown up without a clear understanding of what a healthy relationship exhibits. They have been poorly influenced. When two people get together with a similar upbringing, they can unknowingly pass those bad habits onto their children. This can manifest in ways such as being afraid of commitment, having trust issues and, being worried about having children and passing on negative traits.
Highly traumatic situations as children can also lead to mental illness and or addiction. Post-traumatic stress disorder has been proven to trigger children and is a risk factor for developing bipolar disorder. The heartbreaking truth is those family members of suicide attempters, and victims have a significantly higher risk for suicidal behavior. This fact alone shows how paramount it is to positively influence your children, or anyone in your care for that matter.
But why are generational curses so prevalent in today's society? Unfortunately, issues like mental illness and addiction are still very taboo topics. Collectively people share immense sympathy for people like cancer patients who are physically sick, but those who are mentally unwell do not get the same compassion and understanding.
Instead of living in fear and continuing the bad cycle, we can break these generational curses so that our children can live freely. When we break generation patterns, we have to go back in time and reflect on those situations that affected us as children. We need to unpack what we have buried deep down inside, and we need to shine awareness on how it makes you feel before leaving it behind forever. Going through shadow work and healing is the only way to break the "curse."
Going through a spiritual journey and bringing awareness to all areas of your life, including the destructive patterns, will allow you to break free from toxic situations and take charge of your own life. You will only succeed in shifting your life by taking responsibility which requires surrender and acceptance. It is important not to attack the things you don't want to address but rather approach them with compassion and suspend judgement on yourself.
How to break generational curses
A spiritual journey is a very broad explanation of breaking generational curses, but what does that actually involve?
Everyone's journey is unique to them, but below is the general structure of a spiritual journey.
Reflecting and becoming aware
It is far too familiar that the busyness of life interferes with your ability to pause and reflect on past situations and become completely aware of your actions. When the mind is quiet and performs activities like journaling, you can tap into your subconscious mind and unpack how you feel. Think of reflection and awareness as an area of your brain that holds all of your inner wisdom, and it's dark and hidden, but your focus shines a bright light onto it, unlocking clarity.
Taking responsibility
It is convenient to blame a generational curse on your destructive behavior as it allows you to blame others. But only when you take a good hard look at your actions can you take accountability for them. Through the process of taking ownership of your life, you need also determine your belief system. Your belief system defines how you interpret the world, and it influences the way your approach life.
Forgiveness & Healing
While unpacking old baggage and reflecting on the past, a lot of heavy emotions could arise. If you spend too much time thinking about the past, you can become bitter and begin to resent people that did you wrong. The only way you can ultimately move forward is by forgiving all and making peace. Nobody said that healing was easy, but it is necessary for new beginnings and a great future.
Conscious, mindful actions
A safe, positive environment, routine and role modelling good behaviors are all examples of conscious, mindful actions. Regularly check in with yourself and ensure all areas of your life are balanced.
Think of influencing your child as teaching them. They spend so much of their young lives looking up to you and mimicking your behaviors.
Great lessons to teach your family:
Laughter is the best medicine
Studies show that laughter triggers endorphins to release which is the body's natural feel-good chemicals. Positive energy is infectious, and you want your family to be happy! They promote an overall sense of well-being and have even been proven to relieve pain.
The importance of privacy
The digital world doesn't teach us the importance of privacy enough. It is an excellent lesson as it gives us space to make our own decisions without judgement or discrimination. It allows us to act freely.
Knowledge is power
It is powerful to acquire knowledge and pass it on to future generations. Those with knowledge can make informed decisions, and it allows people to control the forces of nature and use them for their benefit.
Honesty is the best policy
One of the most important aspects of living a balanced life is to elevate stress. When you lie about things, you always experience feelings of worry and anxiety. It's much easier, to tell the truth than to bend it and turn it into a lie. By being honest, this is a beautiful reflection of who you are as a person
Identifying the egoic mind
One of the most significant reasons why ego is your attacker is that it keeps you out of touch with reality. Your ego is what prevents you from hearing critical but necessary feedback from others. Ego makes you overestimate your own abilities and worth and underestimate the effort and skill required to achieve your goals.
The power of thought
The placebo effect is a real thing, and it demonstrates how extraordinary the power of thought is. When you rewire your subconscious thoughts and only surround yourself and radiate with positivity, you attract great opportunities.