Workshops » Oh - DO hurry up!

Ego states and the voices in our head

Do you, like me, sometimes hear voices in your head? Don’t worry, it’s completely normal! Often, when we are attempting to learn something new or operating outside our comfort zone, messages from years ago pop into our heads and impede our progress.

• “You shouldn’t be doing that!”
• “That’s far too difficult for you.”
• “Don’t even try - you’re wasting your time.”

Ring a bell?

These are echoes from our childhood. Some of the parental messages we received when we were little were positive and encouraging, but we tend to remember the ones which weren’t. Later in life, in certain trigger situations, those messages can be replayed, and we revert to acting as though we were back in that parent-child relationship. This explains why we sometimes find ourselves reacting badly to other people, or feeling threatened or cowed by others’ behaviour.

My mother was always telling me to hurry up. Even now, I find myself rushing and doing things too quickly, but as soon as I’m aware that I’m doing this, I can, from my adult, dismiss that voice from the past and work at my own speed.

This workshop looks at the Parent, Adult and Child ego states. It explores where our self-limiting behaviours come from and how we can work to express ourselves and take back the control. Do you struggle to get your voice heard in a group situation, or to disagree with the speaker? You may be returning to your over-adapted child, too scared to speak out and express yourself. I will show you how to identify and manage these feelings and become the confident, capable adult you really are.