How to Be the Love You Seek: Break Cycles, Find Peace, and Heal Your Relationships

Relationships are important in our lives as it influences our happiness and well-being. But when relationships fail, they can be quite destructive. In such moments, our common reaction might be to blame others. Sometimes too much that we forget to look at our own behaviors and choices.

Understanding our role in relationships can transform how we engage with others. Much of this understanding is influenced by our past, particularly our earliest relationships with our parents.

For instance, if we grew up in a stressful environment or experienced emotional neglect, we might develop unhealthy relationship patterns. We may feel comfortable only when sacrificing our needs to avoid conflict or disappointment. These early bonds shape our subconscious habits, which then influence our thoughts, feelings, and reactions in our present relationships.

To change our relationship habits for the better, we need to be aware of our past and how it affects us as adults. It is only when we’re self-aware that we will be able to establish new behaviors for creating healthier and happier relationships.

In the previous section, we touched on how our early relationships with our parents or caregivers can shape our behaviors in current relationships. This phenomenon is known as "trauma bonds."

So, what exactly are trauma bonds?

They are essentially patterns formed in our earliest interactions that continue to influence how we connect with others as adults. From a young age, our brains start wiring themselves based on these initial experiences. Unfortunately, not all of these patterns are healthy. They often stem from trauma and can lead us into relationships that repeat these familiar but unhealthy dynamics.

Imagine a child who grows up with a caregiver who is overly critical or emotionally distant. As that child grows up, they might subconsciously look for partners who have similar traits. Why? Because even though this type of interaction is uncomfortable and unhealthy, it feels familiar. And for our nervous system, which is all about survival, predictable often feels safer than the unknown, even if the unknown might be healthier.

Now, to break away from trauma bonds, we need to go beyond just changing our thoughts and behaviors. Although they are helpful, the solution is much deeper than that. It requires changing our physiological responses—essentially, reprogramming how our body reacts to different situations. We need to teach our bodies that it's safe to be in environments that are healthy and nurturing, not just the ones that feel familiar because they mirror our past traumas. Some techniques for rewiring our responses can range from therapy and mindfulness to specific exercises designed to help calm and regulate the nervous system - especially in stressful moments.

We all possess an ego that crafts narratives to make sense of our world. These stories, formed by our subconscious mind, help us interpret our experiences and deal with uncertainties. For example, when someone we like doesn’t text us back, our ego might tell us that we’re not worth their time. Or if we’re overlooked for a work opportunity, our ego might label us as unqualified. Or if we're passed over for a promotion, our ego might label us as unqualified. Over time, these repeated interpretations weave into a narrative we carry throughout our lives, often leading us to mistakenly believe they are true.

The most impactful ego story usually takes root in our childhood, which was formed as a coping mechanism for unmet needs by our parents or caregivers. This deep-seated narrative often revolves around feelings of not being lovable, good enough, or worthy. As children, we couldn’t understand the complexities of our caregivers' behaviors. Thus, we just internalized these experiences, wrongly believing we were at fault.

Even as adults, As adults, we often continue to conceal aspects of ourselves that we believe are unworthy, sometimes even from our own awareness. This results in "shadow" parts of our personality that we deny or suppress. Despite their harmful effects, these ego stories linger because our minds crave certainty and are comforted by familiarity.

Common ego-driven beliefs include "I’m too much to be loved," "I’m an imposter," or "I’m always going to be abandoned." These narratives become so embedded in our subconscious that we accept them as our reality. Our brains continually activate these ego-driven thoughts, strengthening neural pathways that color our daily experiences with these old stories.

To break free from these destructive stories, it's essential to develop what is called "mind consciousness." This involves recognizing and questioning the validity of our ego stories and learning to separate our true selves from these ingrained narratives. Some techniques to do this are meditation and affirmation. Meditation can help us view our our thoughts more objectively, lessening their control over how we act and interact with others. Affirmations, on the other hand, can reprogram our thought patterns by reinforcing positive self-views and diminishing the influence of negative conditioning. This shift not only changes how we see ourselves but also how we engage with the world around us.

How do you usually handle tough conversations? If you're someone who tends to avoid these situations, it might be tied to an avoidant attachment style, often shaped by past experiences. For example, if growing up, you felt overshadowed by your siblings' accomplishments, you might have developed ways to dodge emotional discomfort. Recognizing why you avoid confrontations is crucial because it impacts your current relationships.

Once you understand the roots of your avoidance, it's helpful to adopt practices that can help regulate your nervous system. Techniques like taking deep breaths and physically grounding yourself can make a big difference. These methods help you stay composed during tough talks, and most importantly, helps in co-regulating with your partner.

Co-regulation means using your calmness to help your partner feel more secure and relaxed. This supportive presence makes it easier for your partner to engage in difficult discussions without feeling threatened. Over time, this leads to more effective communication and the establishment of boundaries that respect both your needs.

The effectiveness of co-regulation comes from its ability to connect individuals beyond their individual traumas and stress responses. It operates on the principle that our nervous systems are interconnected and can mutually influence one another. When one partner maintains a state of calm and security, they can help the other achieve the same, leading to more meaningful and constructive interactions.

In the early 1990s, Dr. Gary Chapman introduced the concept of the five love languages. This provides a framework for understanding how people prefer to receive and express love. These love languages are words of affirmation, quality time, receiving gifts, acts of service, and physical touch. Recognizing and understanding these love languages can transform our relationships as it allows us to communicate our emotional needs more effectively.

However, it's crucial to recognize that insisting on receiving love in a specific manner aligned with one's personal preferences might restrict the natural ways others express their affection. People's comfort and natural tendencies in showing love vary, and understanding this can prevent misunderstandings and foster more authentic interactions.

To build healthier relationships, it's important to develop what's called "empowerment consciousness." This means taking responsibility for our own emotional well-being and encouraging the same in others. It involves clearly communicating our needs, setting boundaries, and seeking support in a way that respects both our own and others' emotional capacities. For example, if someone needs time alone to recharge, they should feel comfortable asking for it without worrying about harming the relationship.