Unconscious Patterns and Beliefs About Abundance Passed Down through Generations

My grandma thought people with money were bad.  I actually feel in my body that she thought they were the root of so much evil in the world; that if you turned out to be one of those people with money, you'd end up too big for your britches and you would no longer have anything in common.  

My impression is her mom felt the same way.  And the basis was hardship.

One of the first stories I remember being told about my great grandparents was about them living in a cabin in the middle of a Canadian winter.  Life was rough (and cold!).  It was so hard in fact that they when they were ‘snowed in’ on those winter days, the entire hut would be covered in snow and the only way out was when the mounty would come around and would dig them out through the hatch on their roof.  I distinctly remember one story where my great grandmother was telling me she was using a broom stick to hammer on the roof so the mounty would know where to dig and look for them.  

On the opposite end of the spectrum, we now live in a time where we have access to everything at our fingertips.  I have been very fortunate in life, however, my challenge with abundance didn't come from the lack of it but rather my relationship with it. 

I have always felt as if fortune MUST come with hardship.  If there wasn't hardship endured, then I wasn't a good person, or I wouldn’t deserve it, or I wouldn’t be worth the fortune that came my way.  

On one of my inner journeys, I actually imagined huge sums of money being deposited in my account and my reaction was to vomit; to release the feeling of guilt, of being a bad person because I lived in abundance and was receiving abundance.  

What a strange feeling that was.  To physically reject the idea of abundance because it was going to be too easy - the money didn’t come from hardship but rather from me being me.  

The Effects of Transgenerational Trauma on Self-Worth and Beliefs about Abundance

Why do we do that?  Why do we subconsciously sabotage ourselves for being who we are? Where did that scarcity mindset come from and why do we unknowingly have a fear of success? 

And who gave us those beliefs. 

Because we didn’t just show up with them one day!

Part of the answer may just lay in transgenerational beliefs and trauma related to abundance.  You may be thinking, how does grandma and great grandpa’s relationship with abundance influence my ability to have a sense of overall well-being, prosperity, and fulfillment in life, encompassing not only financial wealth but also emotional, psychological, and relational aspects. 

Well, transgenerational trauma refers to the transmission of traumatic experiences from one generation to another. These experiences can impact not only our emotional well-being but also our belief systems.  When individuals grow up in an environment where abundance did not prevail due to past traumas experienced by their ancestors, they may adopt similar beliefs unconsciously. 

In 7 short bullet points, here is how transgenerational trauma can impact a person's relationship with abundance:

1. Scarcity Mindset: Transgenerational trauma can instill a deep-seated scarcity mindset, where individuals constantly feel as though there is not enough abundance to go around. They may worry about scarcity in various aspects of life, including finances, love, opportunities, and happiness. This mindset can make it challenging to recognize and embrace abundance when it does come their way, as they may still feel a sense of lack.
2. Fear of Success: Trauma experienced by previous generations can lead to a fear of success in individuals. They may associate success or abundance with negative consequences or increased pressure, fearing that achieving more in life will lead to heightened expectations or even a sense of betrayal toward their family's history of hardship.
3. Self-Worth and Abundance: Transgenerational trauma can affect an individual's self-worth and self-esteem. They may carry feelings of unworthiness or guilt when experiencing abundance, believing that they don't deserve it or that it somehow disrespects the struggles their ancestors faced.
4. Self-Sabotage: Individuals with transgenerational trauma may unconsciously engage in self-sabotaging behaviors when abundance begins to manifest in their lives. This can involve sabotaging relationships, career opportunities, or financial success, as they may not be comfortable with the idea of abundance.
5. Patterns of Repetition: Transgenerational trauma can lead to patterns of behavior and thought that repeat through generations. If a family has a history of scarcity, conflict, or emotional dysfunction, these patterns can persist and make it difficult for individuals to break free from the cycle of limited abundance.
6. Difficulty Enjoying Abundance: Even when abundance is present, individuals affected by transgenerational trauma may struggle to fully enjoy it. They might be plagued by guilt, anxiety, or a sense of impending loss, preventing them from savoring the positive aspects of their lives.
7. Financial Self-Sabotage: In terms of financial abundance, individuals may overspend or engage in risky financial behaviors as a way to unconsciously undermine their financial well-being. This can lead to ongoing financial challenges and instability.

Why we would do any one of the items listed above? 

It isn't about us consciously engaging in these behaviors; it stems from the subconscious parts of ourselves that reveals itself when we are faced with abundance. 

When abundance is laid out in front of you, what do you do?  How do you act?  

Often the only way to truly find your truth and understand what is standing between you and opening yourself to abundance is to journey inwards, to allow the subconscious and the nervous to feel in order to shift.