Forgetting is choosing to not remember. Forgetfulness is an inability to remember. Huge difference. I’m still camped at Philippians 3:13 with Paul’s one thing that he does. “…forgetting those things which are behind…”

We fall into a gamut of emotions when we choose to remember something hurtful from our pasts. All memories are stored in the limbic part of our brains. I copied this from the Cleveland Clinic.

“the limbic system works together with other brain regions by processing your memory, thoughts and motivations, then tell your body how to respond.” When we choose to recall and dialogue with something traumatic from our past, our body responds as though it is happening right now. That is why Corrie froze when she was face to face with her ex-guard. She brought up the abuse in her mind and her body reacted.

It is good to be attentive to our reactions. They often reveal what is hidden that impedes our physical, emotional, and spiritual well being. When I overreact to something, I pause and ask myself, “Marilyn, what do you believe about yourself right now?”