RCT’s (Reality Congruent Triggers) and RIT’S (Reality Incongruent Triggers)
When I began to do work on myself, it was all I could do to get a handle on my triggers. There were so many, and they were so bloody intense. Over time, I reached a place where I could manage them better. Eventually, I began to see many of my triggers as opportunities for healing. I devoted myself—initially in talk therapy, and later in body-centered psychotherapy—to healing and making sense of the connection between the arising triggers and the traumas that sourced them. A work-in-process, my life became an often uncomfortable but ultimately gratifying adventure in self-creation. Instead of being controlled by my personal and ancestral trauma, I reached a place where I was in control of many parts of my process. No longer ruled by the ghosts from my past, we were now sitting together at the table of presence.
At some point, I came to realize that not only were my triggers opportunities for transformation (and yes, I do realize that some of our triggers are simply too painful to transform), they were also remarkably wise interpreters of reality. In other words, my triggers were (sometimes) trying to tell me something I needed to know about the circumstances of my life. This wasn’t true for some of my most intense woundscapes—for example, my abandonment wound often misinterpreted relational dynamics—but it was true for many others. For example, as a result of what I had experienced with my parents, I became much better at spotting abusers. I would feel triggered in their presence, not because I was projecting my wounds onto them, but because my experiences had made me wiser. The trigger had evolved into a knowing. It arose to remind and protect me. The fruit of my trigger’s labor.
Over time, it served me to language this distinction in this way: RIT’S (Reality Incongruent Triggers) and RCT’s (Reality Congruent Triggers). In other words, the distinction between those triggers that make it difficult to see things for what they are vs. those triggers that make it easier to see things for what they are. I particularly like this distinction because it helps us to do something that our trauma histories often prevent—it helps us to recognize our inherent wisdom and to give ourselves credit for the efforts that we made to heal and grow. It takes a lot of energy to convert a trigger from an RIT to an RCT. Kudo’s to those of us who have traversed this courageous terrain.
Triggers have gotten a bad name. We often forget that they are pointing us in the direction of that which longs to be healed. And that sometimes they are actually kernels of wisdom, determined to help us and enhance our lives. The following quote from my book, Hearticulations, reflects the latter perspective. I encourage you to lean into the question next time you feel triggered by something in your life: Is this an RIT, RCT, or is it a little bit of both?...
“It is often true that we are projecting our past experiences and relationship dynamics onto others. This is particularly the case where trauma was involved—we can see the abuser, everywhere. But what is also true, is that not everything we see in another is a projection. Sometimes, we have learned a thing or two from our past experiences. Sometimes we have developed a very precise clarity about certain behaviors and intentions. Sometimes we see a similarity that actually exists. So, when someone tells you that you are projecting your difficult mother, or your narcissistic ex, or your impossible employer, take the inquiry to the next level:
Am I unfairly projecting, or am I sensing something that I am familiar with? Am I making a misguided assumption, or am I seeing through to the truth? Am I living in the past, or have I simply learned from it?”
They have us by the “smartphones”
When I finally got a smartphone—largely because easy-functioning on Instagram required it—I knew it was trouble. I had clung to my flip-phone—and the wonderfully humane distinction between my phone and my computer—for as long as I could. And then that dark day came when I got my first Iphone. I have regretted it ever since.
It’s not that the so-called ‘smartphone’ isn’t useful. Quite the opposite. The manipulation of consciousness always comes with perks. (Just like the narcissistic guru always has useful tools and techniques.) The thing has a calendar, a compass, a GPS, a camera, a flashlight, a calculator, and every app you could ever dream of. The thing pays your parking, orders your food, and plays your favorite tunes. You get to access your social media accounts instantly, and you can set the thing to wake you up when you dare to fall asleep. Little wonder people flood the Apple store when the new version arrives. They are in a codependent relationship with their phone. The thing has become indispensable to their lives. They are completely lost without it.
And that’s the problem right there. Between the unintegrable stimuli and neurophysiological overwhelm, the body nullification and cerebral lock-in, there is little left of us as individuated beings. We have become the phone and the phone has become us. We are so worried about the future impact of A.I. that we don’t realize that we already are artificial intelligence. Our beings have become unnaturally intelligent, so addicted to and flooded by meaningless information that we are no longer authentically human. We can’t feel our hearts. We can’t feel our feet. We can’t regulate our nervous systems. And we can’t appreciate and communicate with our fellow humans. They have been replaced by pixels and projections.
Smart-phones are the most effective manipulators of consciousness I have ever seen. This is not progress—this is regress. These devices are weapons of mass distraction, playing perfectly into the hands of the power-broking puppeteers who benefit from our depersonalization. We are being turned into lifeless puppets. But it is not a peaceful death. Many of us are constantly agitated and triggered by the phones, and yet we are too afraid to turn them off just in case we miss the key piece of information that we need to survive. And God forbid we lose them—that just takes our anxiety to a whole other level.
I often imagine some malevolent genius put in a room some years ago. His instructions were simple—”Create a phone that addicts and alters human consciousness!” And then he invited the best and brightest neuro-physiologists and psychologists to help him craft something that would hook humanity. Soon enough, the unconscionable marketer came into the space with his toolbox of diversionary cliches to ensure that the species would feel compelled to purchase them. His greatest contribution was the term “smartphone”, which leaves everyone who doesn’t have one feeling like they are dumb. And then the social media expert showed up, just to make sure that these phones could accommodate the kind of algorithmic polarization that would both maximize profits and divide and conquer humanity. Better we hate each other so that we don’t see how effectively we are being played.
It worked. Where before we had just enough space to rest and regenerate, to hold the space for each other’s (differing) opinions, to learn from the experiences of the flesh, we are now being controlled by our devices. I was at a Starbucks last week and saw two beautiful couples sitting at a table. Where years before they would be pining away to jump their partner’s bones, each of them was locked into their phone. Pining away for more in the way of deadening pixels and projections. Pining away for more fantasies and less reality. I couldn’t help but feel terrified for humanity.
It's time for a smart-human revolution. One that does away with these silly phones. One where a computer is just a computer, a music app is again a stereo, a Doordash is a visit with the grocer, a GPS is a mapbook (remember those!), and a human is not a lifeless and triggered puppet but an individuated and sovereign being that values every precious breath.
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For those of you who missed this last week…
My latest book, Humanifestations, has been shadow-banned (explained in THIS newsletter) and made difficult to purchase in various parts of the world. Humanifestations is a kind of sister book to Hearticulations, which came out in 2020. Lots of juicy quotes and insights that can benefit you on your healing and transformation path. Because access has been blocked, I want to offer the ebook to you for free. Feel free to forward to anyone you believe would benefit from it. I worked hard on this book, and I want it to reach its intended audience, one way or the other.
Here is a free download link:
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Given that I am shadow-banned on Facebook and Instagram, I will share more of my upcoming course offerings here:
(1) The Enrealment Method Transformation course. I couldn't find my purpose if I couldn't be present. And I couldn't seem to get present without living my purpose. So I found a way to become both, and eventually they became the same thing. Presence became a portal to purpose, and purpose a portal to presence. And then I created a course to support others on their quest. If you are interested in exploring and embodying presence and purpose, check out my new Enrealment Method Course beginning March 27th. A 7-week on-line course that supports your journey to humanize your spiritual life. To truly arrive here in embodied form, and to clarify why you are here. Guidance and inspiration for anyone ready to find and to walk their truest path in a distracting world. It is available at Soulshaping Institute and it is also available for free for any paid subscriber of this newsletter. If you sign up at $5/month, you get to participate in this course and future courses as well. It’s a super affordable way to support your own healing and transformation process.
(2) In addition, my annual April WRITING course is coming soon! Called 'Writing your Way Home: Answering the Soul’s Call', this affordable 6-week online course begins April 10th and supports your calling to write, and to work through anything that prevents you from honoring it. You can be anywhere in the world and still enjoy this course! If you are not available to listen to the audio classes on the day of class, no worries – they will be available for 6 weeks thereafter, and can also be easily downloaded. And there is lots of feedback on your writing, if you want it.
I look forward to sharing with you some of the lessons I have learned along the way – and some tools and techniques that may make your journey a lot more satisfying. If you struggle with sitting down and putting your heart and soul to paper, this course is for you. If you seek to hone your skills as a writer, this course is for you. If you seek to finally express repressed feelings and memories, this course is for you. If you simply love to write and long for support, this course is for you. I also look forward to sharing my knowledge about the publishing industry, so you can make the right choices if you ever decide to write a book.
When we identify the paths we are here to walk and the gifts we are here to open, we explode into a world of unlimited vitality. If you are born to write, you must write. It’s that simple. It doesn’t matter if you write for the world or for yourself alone. It doesn’t matter if you write epic novels or occasional blogs. It doesn’t matter if you write of soulful matters or practical things. It doesn’t matter if critics applaud or ignore you. All that matters is that you honor your soul’s voice and write! Please join us!
Link to Course Description and Sign-up
(3) The link to my immediate download courses is here: Healing and Transformation course links
Among them: The Abandonment Wound Healing Course, The Narcissistic Abuse Healing Course, The Sacred Feminine Rising Audio Course, The Inner Child Rising Healing Course, The Awakening Man Transformation Course, The Poetry Healing Course, The Finding and Living Sacred Purpose Course.
If you are interested in doing an affordable personal session with me, those are available here: Personal session Link I love working with people one-on-one.
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Pharmacogenetic Testing
I sent an email last fall to a prominent Canadian investigative journalist about the life-saving need for pharmacogenetic testing. I just heard back that they are working on an article about it. I look forward to sharing a link with you when it is available.
Big pharma doesn't want this kind of testing to normalize because they prioritize profits over people, but it is essential if we are going to lower the damage down by adverse reactions to prescriptions. Over 300,000 Americans lose their lives to wrongly prescribed medications every year. Millions die needlessly worldwide. And given that there is usually no requirement for informed consent about side-effects when you meet with your physician, it is all the more essential that we normalize pharmacogenetic testing so that we all have the information that we need. Everyone has a right to know their physiological limitations with respect to all manner of medication. And if we normalize this kind of testing, it is likely to become more affordable. And… perhaps one day this information will get stored in a data base that will be available to your practitioner. This would be ideal. Let’s fight for that. Let’s fight for a more humane health care experience.
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Dear Jeff…
Finally, I am planning to activate my ‘Dear Jeff’ advice Column in the coming weeks. If you have any issues that you are struggling with, feel free to email them to me (support@jeffbrown.co) and I will do my best to answer them in the column. If you are okay with your first or full name being used, let me know that as well. If you don’t include that, I will simply assume that you don’t want your name used. Whatever works for you.
Blessed be the Humanifestor that lives within each of us. Let’s set those sparkling souls free! I am grateful for your presence and support.
Jeff
Thank you for your pursuit of all things whole and healthy!
Hey Jeff, I cannot agree more with the Smartphone thing. It's an incredible bit of technology that is immensely convenient - and yet I hate having one. I struggle with it. Every. Single. Day. I am definitely not addicted. The phone is like a whiny little kid that follows you around wanting and demanding attention 24/7, and then when you give it to them, it wants MORE AND MORE. And I say this as someone with all my notifications always off and my phone always on silent. I don't think people are allowed healthy boundaries anymore. The landline provided contact but healthy time frames, boundaries & expectations. The smartphone has obliterated them! The unspoken assumptions and expectations about having to reply back so quickly; the free access to you; the constant updates and stimulation and data and life input - and that's just from family! Not to mention the constant interruptions!!! There's Just. Too. Much. And it cheapens the value and the experience of really appreciating a great cat video or a heartwarming photo sent to you - when there is so much sent to you. The entire pace of life has sped up, and no one can keep up. And the everyday experience of physical reality is altered so drastically and no one seems to notice or care! And the way it constantly is designed to distract us, and trigger us, so obvious yet also sneaky. It's not a step forward in human consciousness that's for sure (only a step forward in a technological device that can multi task). I have wanted to give up my phone for a long time now, but as each year passes, it becomes harder and harder to do so, and Life Admin functions, such as banking, email sign ins, etc, often require a mobile phone. And I know it would hurt the feelings of family member's. It's a weight on my shoulders every day, unfortunately.