I Am Not My
Mother
by Marie T.
Russell
Some people feel that they
are limited by their genes, by what is encoded in their DNA. While studies show
that identical twins raised in different environments have some strikingly
similar tastes and behaviors, one must be careful not to use genetics as an
excuse. "My family is prone to heart attacks" or "My mother was overweight" can
be an excuse to live and eat in unhealthy patterns. While those unhealthy
patterns were probably learnt from our mothers and grandmothers (and fathers and
grandfathers), they are not necessarily inherited. Now of course, there are
genetics involved, yet we must also give credence to all the studies about the
power of the mind.
It has been shown that what
people believe about themselves becomes true. We have all heard of
self-fulfilling prophecies. In many instances we apply those to others, not
seeing that we fulfill our own self-prophecies daily. Statements such as
"migraines run in my family" may be true, but that does not necessarily make us
victims. We have choices we can make. There is a lot of new information as to
how to not only alleviate migraines, but also prevent them. Some of the answers
lie in nutrition, others in fitness regimens, and others in alleviating
stressful situations in our lives. So even though migraines might be hereditary,
there is something that we can do. We do not have to bow our heads and say
"There's nothing I can do. It's in my genes."
We need to look at
ourselves realistically, using what we know of our family background and
patterns, and then decide where we want to go from there. In some areas of our
life, that's easy. Just because your parents grew up in a city (or a farm)
doesn't mean that you have to live there. That's obvious. But is it just as
obvious that because our parents were alcoholics (or cigarette smokers, or
overweight, or workaholics, or died of a heart attack or cancer, etc.) that we
don't have to follow in their footsteps? Yes, we may have the tendency to do so.
We may have inherited some genetic patterns that predispose us to certain
diseases, we may have absorbed their behavior as a child learns from their role
model - but we have the benefit of research and advanced technology. We also
have the advantage of knowing the power of mind over matter.
Patients who are told by
their doctors that they have 3 months to live, often do exactly that. Is it
because the doctor was right, or is it because the patient believed the doctor
was "omnipotent" and thus fell into self-fulfilling prophecy manifestation. On
the other hand, patients who refuse to believe the doctor, often go out and find
alternative ways to regain their health, and not only live the 3 months "
prescribed" by the doctor, but go on to live 10, 20 and sometimes 30
years.
I know a man who was told
by the doctor over 30 years ago that he had one year to live. Why? Because he
had cirrhosis of the liver. The doctor told him that unless he quit drinking,
he'd be a goner in one year. Well, that was thirty years ago. The man is still
alive. No, he didn't quit drinking, yet he refused to believe the verdict of the
doctor, and 30 years later, he's still alive. Now, that's the power of the mind.
Sometimes stubbornness is enough to get you through. Refusing to die, or
refusing to let the doctor be "right", can be a powerful manifestation
tool.
So are we locked in to our
genetics? If we want to, yes. But if we want to be stubborn about it, take
charge of our life, and use the power of our mind along with the tools of
knowledge, we can bypass the programming and we can rise above the limitations
of our cells. We are not this body. This body is our vehicle, the "car" that
carries our soul or spirit. In the same way that your car may have certain
weaknesses, we also know that taking care of it extremely well will allow you to
drive your vehicle without having it break down (or at least it will delay that
occurrence).
So am I my mother? No! I
may have certain inherited similarities. I may have certain tendencies. I
certainly grew up being taught her beliefs. But, I can now rise above the
patterning and know that I am not she. I am my own person, and can choose my own
beliefs, my own illness or health, and my own future. Knowing that we are not
"stuck" in our ancestral patterns is the first step in the direction of freedom
and liberation from pain and fear.
Recommended book:
Freedom: The Courage to Be Yourself
by Osho.
Info/Order this book
 About The Author
Marie
T. Russell is the founder of InnerSelf Magazine (founded 1985). She also
produced and hosted a weekly South Florida radio broadcast, Inner Power, from
1991-1995 which focused on themes such as self-esteem, personal growth, and
well-being. Her articles focus on transformation and reconnecting with our own
inner source of joy and creativity.
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