Replacing Fear with Understanding
I grew up with rules that were enforced by fear. Cycle-breaking for me means swapping fear for understanding.
by Meredith Miller
8/22/20251 min read
Many of us grew up with rules that were enforced by fear. Fear of punishment, fear of being “in trouble.” Cycle-breaking starts when you shift from fear to understanding.
Instead of “Stop crying or else....” you might try, “I see you’re upset. Can you tell me what happened?” Your child learns that their emotions are not dangerous. And you learn that your connection with them grows in those moments, not in spite of them.
It’s amazing how connection changes the whole energy.
