How do we connect memories with emotion that then influences our actions?

If you remember the nursery rhyme about Dr Foster, you'll know that he went to Gloucester but because of one bad experience, involving a very deep puddle... he never went there again.

My own realisation of how a 'bad' experience almost stopped me going to a garden centre again (I know!), helped me made a conscious decision (to go!), rather than having a subconscious emotional response (and stay home).

This then helped me reflect on the way our beautiful brain can influence us and stop us doing things... even when the danger or risk has well and truly passed.

This episode is about how our memories can influence us even in the every day, where we might not realise that we ARE being influenced by emotional responses we've had in the past. And, of course, if you extrapolate this idea it becomes easy to see why past trauma can affect our present behaviour so very very deeply.

I also share how we can make connections between two things that may, on the surface feel entirely paradoxical. For example, both of my parents smoked for almost the whole of my life and so, I ended up associating the smell of cigarettes with the love I received from, and feel toward, my parents. And after my mother died I often would smell cigarettes when no one was smoking anywhere near me. An expression of my loving memory of her.

The invitation, as always, is to explore what associations you are potentially making, that may be driving or influencing your own behaviours.

Henny x
To connect and explore your own path: https://www.hennyflynn.co.uk/