When old patterns show up

Sometimes, in the middle of a perfectly normal moment, something happens and I react in a way that feels… strange. Almost childish.

It’s like I’m not acting from the present, but from something much older.

I’ve come to realize these reactions can be rooted deep in past experiences — even further back, in the stories and struggles carried by those who came before me. They can live quietly in our DNA, waiting for the right trigger.

And yet, only minutes later, I’m back. Strong, clear, able to respond with the confidence I know I have.

It’s a reminder that mindfulness isn’t just about calm breathing or positive thinking. It’s about noticing when the past is speaking through us — and choosing to step back into the present.

Self-awareness gives us that choice. And with it, the power to act from who we are now, not from the echoes of the past.

Choose presence over echoes of the past.