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New
Sexual Freedom
Through Self Awareness
by David Montini
The fear was so intense that he could
feel his heart beating in his throat. He felt as if a miniature sun were going "super
nova" in his stomach, and the tiny nerve ends in his forehead and down his spine were
aflame with fright and excitement. Moments before he had been enjoying the company of his
two older female cousins (16 and 18 years old). It had become a normal Sunday practice to
play with them after escaping from visiting next door with the adults. They were engaged
in their weekly naughty behavior of playing poker, sipping wine, and smoking his aunt's
non-filtered cigarettes.
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Now he found himself locked in his older
cousin's bedroom and told to Shut-up and do what you're told, or they would tell
everyone that he had tried to rape them. He agreed, not really knowing what rape was. His
cousins forced him to assist them in undressing each other. They then roughly removed the
rest of his clothes. Before the afternoon ended, he would be taught every sexual secret
that these two women possessed, and he would prove himself a willing and eager student.
As this boy grew, he adopted the
"belief" that women were sex objects and that their main function was to satisfy
man's needs and desires. This belief was further reinforced by his already low feelings of
self-esteem and the knowledge that he had finally found an area where he could excel with
new found information and skills. He could finally begin to overcome his parents defeating
prophecies and gain respect and acceptance from his peers.
To accomplish this, he became a sexual
dynamo, engaging in many sexual relationships. His beliefs continued to be strengthened by
the ease at which he was able to gain his conquests. After engaging in many one night
stands, he decided it was time to settle down. At the ripe old age of sixteen, he
attempted to find a happy, monogamous relationship. This only led him to a series of
broken and unfulfilling promises and expectations.
What he discovered was that he was
incapable of sustaining any type of permanent relationship. He would always sabotage by
finding faults or craving other women, and he chose partners whose emotional abuses were
far more vicious than any he could ever conceptualize. Eventually he discovered that he
was engaging in the bulk of these behaviors unconsciously.
Sex & Beliefs
In time, this man began to seek
understanding and insight into his destructive behaviors. He discovered that he was a
victim of sexual abuse and that this trauma became the basis for his negative beliefs and
continuing destructive relationship patterns. This man brought these same beliefs and
patterns into all of his relationships, whether they were business, familial or romantic.
He found himself growing angrier and more resentful with every passing day, and was
becoming frustrated by his lack of insight and control.
This man permitted his beliefs to rule
his life, as most of us do. Every time this man attempted to gain control and power over
his life and behaviors, he would visualize the many, many incidents of failure in his
life. All of these old memories interfered with his attempt to grow, and they were all
tied to his initial sexual experiences with his cousins. This incident filled him with
much guilt and shame, which he repressed. He also began to believe that his desires were
wrong and that he did not deserve happiness. This cluster of irrational beliefs could
explain why he had so much difficulty gaining insights and awareness.
Robert
Dilts, in his book, Beliefs writes,
"Beliefs tend to fulfill themselves. When we try to argue with a belief in the
present, we are confronting all the data, gathered over time, that supports or proves our
initial belief. When we go back to where it all started, often the issues are much simpler
and clearer. They're certainly not cluttered by later confirmations."
Therefore, when we apply this information
to the original example of the man's situation, we find that, as a child, he may not have
known how to react to his initial situation. He probably had no true set belief of his
victimization, at that time. However, as the years went by, he began to feel that he
"was soiled, and didn't deserve to find happiness.
This belief can cause an imprint of this
experience. Beliefs form the center of all of our behaviors. When we believe in someone or
something, we will then behave according to that set of beliefs. There are two key types
of beliefs that we permit into our lives. The first is to believe that we can attain our
desired outcome, that we believe it's possible to achieve a goal. The second type of
belief is that we can attain our desired goal, but also have within ourselves the
necessary tools or qualities to reach the goal. If for any reason we are hopeless, feeling
we can't attain our goal, or helpless and believe that we do not possess the qualities to
reach our goal, we become apathetic. When we buy into apathy, we are defeated before we
even attempt to grow or change.
This apathetic attitude is where this man
found himself when he stated that he was undeserving of "happiness." He was
listening to past interferences, messages, that were holding him to the past. These
messages were imprinted in his early memories of childhood.
Many beliefs are focused on our
expectations, whether they center on gaining acceptance, wealth, love or happiness.
Therefore, if we believe that we won't gain our desired outcome, we will refuse to do the
work and produce what it takes to succeed.
Beliefs are not necessarily based on
truth, logic or reality, but are at times in direct opposition to logic and reality. Yet,
these inconsistencies cause us fear and anxiety that is harmful to us.
The type of negative belief this young
man ascribed to centered around his own identity. He unconsciously feared that, if he
changed his beliefs, he would be changing his total identity. Because these identity
beliefs are unconscious, it can be difficult to discover their presence and true
natureonce we uncover it. This is not always an easy process, but by employing the
proper sequence of steps, change will occur.
Changing Behavior Patterns
After this young man became aware of his
past limiting belief patterns, he was able to move past awareness to self-motivated
change. To change or modify any limiting behavior, we must follow three steps. First we
must discover "how" to create the desired change. Second, we must be in total
agreement and harmony with every part of ourselves to want the desired change to occur.
Lastly, we must possess the unwavering belief that we can create the desired change in cur
life.
When the young man set these steps in
motion with a qualified therapist, he was soon to gain direction and reawakened strength
in overcoming his past limiting beliefs about himself and others. He eventually grew very
compassionate and understanding of others' needs to gain awareness and sought to help them
with their change. You see this is a true success story, for I lived through it. We truly
can overcome past limiting beliefs if we only give ourselves the opportunity. If we can
simply learn to be honest with ourselves and to tap into our "God-given"
qualities to overcome limitations.
The next time you're confronted with a
decision that is causing you to feel uncomfortable, try this. Sit in a chair; begin taking
a few long slow deep breaths while you do start to focus on the options within this needed
decision. Begin to visualize the outcomes of all the options being considered and then tap
into the messages that the other parts of your body are sending to you. What is your
stomach doing? In knots? Tight? Or what is your mental feeling about it? Do you feel safe?
Are there any lingering doubts surrounding any of the options?
Learning to identify your limiting
beliefs can be time consuming and somewhat painful, but the rewards for this gain are
overwhelming.
You Are A Blessing
These techniques are very effective and
total release may occur in only a moment, or it may require a longer commitment. Always
remember that healing and growth are the essence of a lifetime. Once you transcend
past patterns, your gains will astound you.
As you ascend to new heights of
consciousness and return to your true natural state of unconditional love, guided wisdom
and unlimited power, you find that your heart is open to, and receptive of, the beautiful
love of universe. You gain a deeper inner state of peace, wholeness and contentment.
Remember, growth is a transitional cycle of loss and recovery with a higher states of
enlightenment as the ultimate goal. Strive to be the blessing you are and to realize
your personal divinity.
Recommended
book:
Getting It
Right the First Time: Creating a Healthy Marriage
by Barry W. McCarthy.
Info/Order book
About
The Author David Montini
is a certified therapist, hypnotist, instructor and lecturer. He maintains a
private, nonprofit, pastoral practice, based on the principles of inner harmony
and has a regular weekly lecture/support group.
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