Guest Contributor, Corby Furrow
I had an aha moment a few weeks ago. My husband and I had decided to downsize our truck to a car vehicle for driving around town. The vehicle that my husband fell in love with was a 2006 Cadillac, it was cream colour and in mint condition, low km’s, likely perfect for driving around town and the price was right.
He had seen the vehicle before I did, so he wanted me to come for a test drive. It was a nice enough looking vehicle but, as I was looking at it and hearing that it’s a one owner vehicle, in good shape, and the price is right, it took me back to when I was 16 years old. I had saved up my money to buy my first vehicle. I was so excited but, my dad had a friend selling a 1972 Pontiac Parisienne car, in good condition, one owner, we know its taken care of and it was in my price range! I looked at that boat of a car and that was the last thing I wanted. It felt like it was the size of a city block! I felt my heart sink. I ended up handing over my hard earned money in exchange for the keys. I wanted to cry.
So there I was standing looking at the Cadillac, with all the feelings and emotions happening, as if I was looking at the old boat. I sat in it; It smelt like old people, the seat wasn’t comfortable, I felt uneasy. Off we went for a test drive. My husband is just beaming, cruising along the highway. I think he was back to his teen years also!
We pull up back at the dealer and by this time I absolutely hated the idea of this car but my husband is ready to deal. So we decide to “think” about it. I was developing a headache as we drove back home. I could see my husbands enthusiasm waning the closer we got home.
Logically, I knew there was nothing wrong with the car but my reaction was opposing that. I knew this disconnect was my issue that I had to work out. I told my husband that it’s ok for him to get the car, if that is the one that makes him happy. He was very hesitant.
I worked on what was going on for me using Emotional Freedom Techniques. What came up was the fact that I didn’t feel like I had a choice. Once I worked out what was happening and made my peace with it, I was able to see the Cadillac for what it was, untainted by my previous experience.
This got me thinking how we see the world and the things that happen to us. We carry all the hurts, the sadness, and the traumas that we have incurred in our lives, along with the experiences and look through those filters as we have new or similar experiences. Unless we have cleared what happened in instances that make us uncomfortable, we are viewing the new event through the filter of our old experience. EFT allows the past experience reaction to remain in the past and any new reaction be based on what is happening in the moment.
We bought the car, and it is a nice ride!