Avocados and your mind
Oh, the mind.
Have you ever thought about how powerful your mind can be? Have you ever been so lost in thought you physically forgot what you were doing, felt your stomach drop instantly because you mind thought of something terrifying, or said something then instantly felt like everyone is judging you?
How wonderful it is, right? Maybe. Maybe not.
There is a beauty to our mind that is unparalleled. It is SO powerful. But, on the flip side, it can be harmful to us. Thus, we have mental health disorders, such as anxiety and depression. What is interesting is that our bodies have evolutionarily evolved to the advanced humans we are today but still contain instincts from prehistoric times. The fear our ancestors felt while running away from a vicious predator is the exact same way that we feel today in situations that our minds perceive to be scary. This can be good if an axe murderer is chasing you in the middle of the night and you are running for your life. But, this can be bad when you’re trying to present your project at work in a meeting with your boss and team and endure a debilitating panic attack. Same mind reaction: perceived danger and physical response.
Again, what a powerful mind we have.
This gets even more interesting with traumas and the work our mind does to protect us from these traumas. Hence, the avocado. I saw this illustration on Pinterest describing this idea and absolutely connected with it. So, here we go.
There is a layer around the avocado - the skin - that protects the inside contents of the fruit. That skin can represent what people see you as. Maybe you’re like me who experiences pretty intense anxiety, but I often hear “you look so calm” and “wow, you disguise it well”. I think people have good intentions when they say things like that, but, internally, they have no idea what is going on in your mind. That is where the green, meaty part of the avocado comes in. That is where the emotions, triggers, physical manifestations (trembling, rapid heart beat, sweating, etc.), and feelings reside. They are the majority of what is felt but less of what is seen by others. You know what you are experiencing, because they are your internal feelings or sensations. No one can see your panic, beating heart, constricted breath. They see the smile on your face, hear the “I’m fine” and move on with their lives. The best for last: the inner avocado seed. The holy grail of your being. This is where your traumas lie. This is where you encompass your self-worth and your role in the world. Who you are is deep inside you, in this core protected by these feelings you have and the external portrayal of who you want others to view you as. To work through traumas or other emotional triggers, you need to go deep. You need to get to the deepest, most vulnerable part of you. If you stay in the green, meaty area, you are going to get stuck in the waves of your emotions or your mind’s constructs versus actually exploring what the deep rooted traumas are. You run the risk of putting a band-aid over your wounds versus actually stitching and healing yourself from the core.
Remember that your mind is powerful, but, if I have learned anything, being gentle with yourself and befriending your mind can be a game changer. Your mind is the fruit of your labor, meaning where your mind goes, energy flows.
Stay humble, have courage, and have fun exploring,
Emily
