Everyone has a distinct set of inclinations when they come into the world. These could be referred to as personalities. But a personality is a different matter. It is influenced by both genetics and the environment. It is a 60/40 ratio, according to scientists. Forty percent of who you are is hereditary, and sixty percent is shaped by the environment. Our inclinations may need to be strengthened when they are weaknesses. For instance, after receiving my Bachelor of Applied Psychology degree, I served the state of Oregon for 17 years as a Qualified Mental Healthcare Associate, and I had a private Life Coaching practice. On a regular basis, I spoke with people who had been diagnosed with "addictive personality."
I disagreed with this, though, because their personalities weren't what made them addictive. They acted out because of their habits, or behavioral inclinations, which were reinforced over time. To put it another way, their whole personality was not addictive. To lessen stress, worry, despair, and insecurities, they drank and smoked. I occasionally overeat because I have a bad sweet tooth. When worried, some people may be prone to becoming irate, others may withdraw, and yet others may become noisy. These are all examples of behavioral inclinations. Since temperament is inherited and determined at birth, they categorize us as either introverted or extroverts. But aside from our personalities and temperaments, we also struggle with our habits, or tendencies. As anyone who has attempted to stop drinking, smoking, or overeating knows, they are not easily changed. We are likely unaware of the underlying causes of these tendencies, which might afflict us throughout our lives. We reach for them because, in a way, they appear to be our friends. But if we indulge in them, they will shorten our lives and harm our health. What is the source of these tendencies, then?
According to geneticists, inclinations are inherited propensities, which means that you might be enticed to smoke if one of your parents or grandparents smoked. Behaviorists would explain that you smoke because it momentarily reduces tension, whereas environmentalists would argue that you want to smoke because society has persuaded you to do so. I contend that there is a third cause. Even while some characteristics are obviously inherited or influenced by your surroundings. I think that you bring traits from previous lifetimes when you are born. Now, at least listen to me before you write me off. You possess a soul. This point has not yet been discovered, or perhaps I should say that it cannot be confirmed scientifically. This is known in the fields of physics, neurology, and psychology as "the hard problem of consciousness. "The location of consciousness is one of the many mysteries that scientists are continuously striving to solve. Does our brains produce an identity, or the "I am?" sensation for us? Or, as religions assert, is the seat of consciousness concealed in the everlasting soul?
For the purpose of argument, let's imagine that the soul—an immaterial, invisible energy or substance made of light waves—is the seat of awareness rather than the brain. After all, physics has demonstrated that we are nothing more than atoms at work when reduced to their most basic elements. Furthermore, our physical bodies are nothing more than electromagnetic radiation since atoms produce light waves. Since Einstein demonstrated that energy cannot be annihilated, the idea that humans are eternal is not so far-fetched. As physicists assert, let's assume that all of this is accurate. This would imply that, like all eternal things, consciousness—that is, our knowledge of "I am" and our intelligence—is ageless and timeless. Your soul might conceivably go to parallel universes on the timeline of eternity if there are parallel universes, as many theoretical physicists like Stephen Hawking assert. For the sake of argument, let's also say that you have conveniently forgotten that you had a whole life in one of these universes. It would seem reasonable then that you may (in theory) carry unresolved tendencies from one incarnation to the next.
I guided hundreds of past-life regressions and thousands of sessions during my 19 years as a clinical hypnotherapist. I want to tell you about one of these that convinced a doubting client to believe. I was having supper with an old buddy one evening. Steve was testing me on regression therapy. Although he was adamantly opposed to the concept of reincarnation, he was always willing to discuss spiritual matters. He had not seen any proof of that, but he was willing to talk about it. Steve was a skeptic with an open mind. Instead of continuing to respond to his barrage of inquiries, I offered him a free past-life regression in my office. I wanted him to decide for himself, and there's no better way to do that than to do it. We made an appointment after he appeared both excited and completely horrified at the prospect.
Steve was practically bouncing as he walked into my office. However, he felt so anxious that he excused himself and went outside to smoke a cigarette. He cautioned me before we began: "I don't think this stuff is real. The mind is making it up, in my opinion. Therefore, if it doesn't work, don't be upset. I have a stronger mentality than that." Many of my customers had expressed to me their doubts about being hypnotized. However, I consistently observed them enter a profoundly hypnotic state as effortlessly as lulling a baby to sleep. I clicked on the cassette tape recorder with a knowing smile so Steve could play it back later. In twenty minutes he was totally at ease and had let his guard down. I started by employing a timeline technique, and in a matter of seconds, his voice could be heard clearly: "I've already arrived. Everything is visible to me. I'm a dude living on my farm." He described the rural setting, and the problems this farmer was facing. Before I could guide him to another place on the timeline, his subconscious took control again and swiftly moved him from one existence to the next. He described each life in extraordinary depth and was fully aware of the tendencies of each personality. He was a woman in some of his lives, although he seemed unfazed by it (certainly not macho-man Steve). He spoke endlessly, moving so quickly from one life to the next that I found it difficult to follow. He was eager to view his many incarnations, which was surprising for a skeptic! We would have remained there all night if I hadn't stopped him when the tape ran out after ninety minutes! After I brought Steve out of the hypnotic state, he opened his eyes and shakily sat up. With hesitation, he inquired, "How did I do?" I merely chuckled. I said, "I am going to let you answer that," and I replayed some of his memories. He shook his head in shock as he listened with wide eyes. "I don't remember all this, only the beginning part." I gave him a tissue as large tears streamed down his face. He chuckled. "I am now a believer after coming here to check if it was true. We lead numerous lives."
I tell his tale because, when I started leading these sessions, I was also skeptical. I was completely persuaded after witnessing this occur to client after client, particularly to skeptics like Steve. After that, I started experiencing unplanned regressions to previous lives in my dreams and before I went to sleep. What I realized was that my life's challenges were nothing new. I have comparable characteristics in other lives. Additionally, the individuals in this incarnation were prominent figures in previous lifetimes. Even my fear of heights and other phobias were brought on by trauma from a previous existence. Moreover, diseases and injuries kept happening. I so firmly believe that the life we lead today is merely a reflection of past lifetimes.
Repeating personality patterns are called vasanas in Hinduism. Vasanas are mental imprints, latent tendencies, or subconscious urges that affect a person's ideas, actions, and reactions, according to Hindu philosophy. To put it simply, a vasana is a deeply ingrained pattern of behavior that persists from one life to the next and functions subconsciously. Furthermore, vasanas are the driving force behind the actions known as karma. Vasanas, above all, keep a person enslaved to ego and reincarnation. Hinduism holds that our vasanas are gradually dissolved by spiritual practice.
I'm aware that this convoluted explanation of previous incarnations might not make perfect sense, but I hope it's at least something to think about. In your life, which tendencies are problematic? Could previous lives be the cause of them? What strategies might you use to deal with persistent behavioral issues? According to Hindu philosophy, we can be liberated from the ego and become happier and healthier if our negative tendencies are eliminated and rendered helpless. Quick fixes or simple answers are not guaranteed by reincarnation. According to Buddhists, it could take tens of thousands, if not thousands, of lives to change our inclinations. Because it is a process, we might not be able to untie the knots we have created in previous lifetimes right away. We will, however, eventually.
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