The 5 Personality Patterns
Welcome to Season 2, Episode 1 of the Positively Healthy Mom Podcast! Today, I'm thrilled to introduce Amanda Curry, a personal coach and physical therapist, as our guest. We're diving into an insightful discussion about the five personality patterns and how they relate to stress responses, particularly for moms. Let's get started!
Understanding Personality Patterns
Amanda begins by explaining the concept of the five personality patterns, based on the work of Steven Kessler. These patterns – leaving, enduring, rigid, merging, and aggressive – are ways people cope with stress and trauma. Unlike other personality assessments, these patterns help us understand why we react the way we do in stressful situations. It's crucial to recognize that these patterns are not our entire identity but rather responses we develop under stress.
How Do We Develop These Patterns?
From ages 0 to 7, we try various strategies to maintain connections with our caregivers. For instance, if order and structure were important in your household, you might have developed a rigid pattern to feel safe. Amanda emphasizes that we often subconsciously adopt these patterns and later struggle with them as adults. Recognizing and accepting these patterns with love and understanding is key to personal growth.
Interoception: The First Step to Healing
Amanda introduces the concept of interoception, which is the ability to notice internal body signals. This can be as simple as feeling a twinge behind your eye or noticing tension in your shoulders. The goal is to identify these stress signals early and manage them before they escalate. By doing so, we can respond more effectively and calmly to stressors in our lives.
Breathwork: A Tool for Emotional Release
Breathwork is a powerful practice that helps access and release stored emotions. Amanda shares how breathwork has significantly impacted her ability to connect with her emotions and process them. Whether you're in a stress response or looking to tap into deeper emotional layers, breathwork can be a transformative tool.
From Overwhelm to Empowerment
Many moms come to Amanda feeling overwhelmed and frustrated, not just with their kids but with themselves. The key is to slow down, get curious about these feelings, and validate them without judgment. This process helps moms shift from reactivity to a more empowered and compassionate approach to parenting and other relationships.
Embracing the Feminine and Masculine Energies
Amanda discusses the importance of balancing masculine and feminine energies. Many women, especially those running businesses or managing households, lean heavily into their masculine energy (planning, structure, efficiency). However, embracing the feminine energy (flow, emotions, intuition) is essential for holistic well-being. Finding ways to transition between these energies, even in small moments, can make a significant difference.
Mother Learning vs. Mother Wounding
Finally, Amanda introduces the concept of "mother learning" instead of "mother wounding." By viewing our experiences with our mothers as learnings rather than wounds, we can reclaim our power and focus on reparenting ourselves. This perspective shift empowers us to heal and grow from our past experiences.
Conclusion
This conversation with Amanda Curry has been incredibly enlightening. By understanding our personality patterns, practicing interoception, utilizing breathwork, and embracing both masculine and feminine energies, we can navigate stress more effectively and become more present, loving parents.
Call to Action
If you enjoyed this discussion, I encourage you to listen to the full podcast episode with Amanda Curry. Tune in to the Positively Healthy Mom Podcast for more insights and practical tips on enhancing your well-being and relationships.
Thank you for joining us, and remember to stay positively healthy!
