Page 77 - The Truth Landscape Format 2020 with next section introductions-compressed

The experiences that have defined life as you know it

From the thousands of hours of life you may have amassed, your defining experiences, those that moulded you into the person you are now, are derived from:

• Your decisive EVENTS
• Your important SELECTIONS
• Your dominant PEOPLE

These key areas have contributed positively and negatively to the construction of your authentic self. Some will have positively influenced it, others will have
caused you to wear masks, engage in denials and otherwise obstruct your life of authentic happiness. So, the sooner we dig deep and identify the roots of your
tree of life, the sooner you will be able to start working toward a life of fulfilment and joy.

You are today, a sum total of how you responded to all the experiences, thoughts and influences that have occurred in your life up to this point. You are a
reflected image of your reaction to all the critical moments, crucial decisions and influence of others that life threw at you down the years. Some of your
reactions will have been positive and you will have learned healthy lessons and grown as a human being. Other reactions will have been misguided, perhaps
influenced by your family, friends, peers or society.

The result is that, you are today, a mixture of the correct, positive and beneficial responses and the incorrect, negative and detrimental responses to
your influential Events, Selections and People.

To conclude this section we have some exercises that are designed discover the important, significant and influential Events, Selections and people that have
contributed to the person you see in the mirror. You may find it useful to have a notepad and pen available. Remember to keep the notes you make private.
They are your memories and yours alone and should be intended FOR YOUR EYES ONLY.

Think of this process like this: You have in front of you, two jigsaw puzzles. One puzzle, when completed, depicts a picture of you, living your ideal, happiest,
authentic life. The other depicts you living an unhappy life, wearing masks and lost in a fog of denial. Someone has very kindly mixed the pieces of both
puzzles together in one box! You only want to complete one jigsaw, the right one, the one that forms a picture of you in your happiest, most authentic state.

Your challenge, as you trawl your memory banks for this exercise, is to identify and separate the useful pieces (events, selections and people) from the
pieces that no longer serve you to your best advantage.

To get as much benefit as possible from the exercise, once you have read through the guidance paragraph first then write down as many detailed memories as
you can recall. Recall facts, events, circumstances, experiences, emotions and reactions as clearly as you can. Be prepared to answer questions like “What
emotions did this provoke?” and “How did this change your emotional state?” and “Did you feel love – hate – insecurity - fear?” and “How did this cause Page77
you to alter your behaviour for similar future experiences?”