What is your safety mode?

We have different kinds of safety nets. One that protects us from harm & another one that causes us harm in the pretense of protection.

We learn to create safety mode as a way to protect us from anxious & panic situations, not repeat painful past & avoid anything that could harm us. You can partly call it your defense mechanisms or coping mechanisms.

As we grow older, some of it don't serve us anymore, they become our limitations & subconscious programming which we aren't aware of.

For instance, a child would avoid getting on stage due to teasing, sweating, lack of confidence, or some unpleasant incidents. As a way to avoid it, a child would fake illness. This somehow becomes a pattern in growing years. A person would fall ill as a way to avoid any situation that could resemble anything like getting on stage (to be seen, hear, expressing self in front of people, taking a stand).

As an adult, these safety modes don't serve any purpose apart from hindering one's growth. Those thoughts/patterns haven't been acknowledged by the mind & is been running in autoloop. We pay a huge price for it without knowing. That child could be hiding his talent from the world, could create situations that stops his growth/promotion in career, difficulty in romantic relationships, could become lonely are some examples of it.

Cost of having these safety modes are huge. It limits our growth, life & makes us imagine the life we desire & not live it.

Use this sheet to write down what is it for you?

Safety Mode.docx

Download DOCX • 14KB

Mine is - avoiding making video content with the fear of being stalked or causing trouble & not be judged by my looks.

Cost of it is - keeping all the knowledge to myself, limiting my reach, fewer clients, less money, unable to have the kind of research & work I would want to do.

Is it serving me? Partly yes, maybe 10-15%

How? Mostly making me stay in my sob story & not take responsibility

Do drop in your comment in a forum post here. I will share some tips on how to deal with them, while I also work on mine.

Love Jaanvi (J)