This is the third article in a series of seven, designed to teach you about the stages of development and how we can get stuck emotionally, psychologically, and spiritually if we don’t work on past issues and traumas. Each also offer solutions for resolving childhood issues, so you can heal past issues and create a future filled with more love, joy, and purpose. Read Stage 1 2 3 4
We all have black and white thinking about some areas of our lives that makes us feel safe and stable. Some of it may work okay for us and some of it may be maladaptive. This is due to getting stuck in traumas and difficulties in our grade school years which is considered Stage 3 in our personal and spiritual development.
Stage 3: Mythical-Literal Faith (age 6 to 12) – During this stage, the child has concrete thinking so can construct an orderly, linear, and rather dependable world. They sort through what is “real” and what is “make believe.” They can still have creative play but want to make sure that what is real is backed up by concrete facts. One of the greatest gifts of this stage is to narrate one’s own experiences. It is also the stage where industry vs. inferiority is internalized which forms how we see ourselves with our creativity and future work life.
If you have traumas or very stressful and difficult experiences during this stage, and do not work them through, you may stay stuck in this stage as an adult. You may keep a ceiling on what you can accomplish in life. This can later negatively impact your career and creativity. You may stay within the concreteness of your stories which makes it hard to make positive changes. You may base your life on your roles and what is expected from you based on childhood expectations. Your description and view of God may be that of a person who can relate to you and you to them. God may be considered a parent figure who knows best.
What do you do if you’re stuck within this concrete stage?
To get through the limitations of being developmentally stuck within Stage 3, you need to realize that you are stuck and that your beliefs and behaviors are limited and based on your grade school years. We are all limited and stuck within some sort of old story, even if we are beyond this stage. The difference is that the stories within this stage are more literal and concrete – more organized within the context of the culture and family we grew up in. A small part of each of us may be stuck within this stage – its just a matter of degree.
An important part of healing this stage in life is going within your unconscious beliefs, patterns, emotions and behaviors. This is most easily accessed by paying attention to your physical body since everything you haven’t worked through is held within it. Staying present to how your body is feeling, helps your body feel heard/understood/seen so it can relax and begin the process of healing. It’s helpful to work with a counselor or practitioner to assist with this since this may be intense work.
A key component to permanent healing is replacing your issues with your spirit. We all have bits and pieces of our spirit stuck somewhere back in time due to our traumas and challenges. It is important to hold the intention that you are letting go of the past and replacing it with your own spirit. A shaman would call this a soul retrieval. This will raise your consciousness to one more aligned with Unity/Oneness consciousness which is what we need to move into a better world.
Raising our consciousness means that we recognize that we are not our experiences. Our bodies may think we are our experiences, but it is not true. We can retrain our bodies to let go of the past and claim a magnificent present and future.
Let’s all join hands and do this work together! We are the Ones we’ve been waiting for!
Many blessings,
Maureen
Enjoy reading this article? Read more from Maureen Higgins
Maureen Higgins owns Wings of Freedom, an alternative counseling and coaching business. She helps people be their best selves and recognize they are part of the Divine. Maureen also founded the School for Higher Consciousness. Maureen has developed numerous energetic healing systems you can learn through the school’s workshops and also experience through her energetically healing audios. Some of the protocols are turned into audios that clear your energy field like a one-on-one session. Experience an Energetic Healing Audios for yourself.
