A brief synopsis:

FACING THE PAST TO LIBERATE THE PRESENT

Is the past really over, done, past?

Both psychology and science are increasingly revealing the mechanisms of transgenerational transmissions by which unresolved issues can be passed from one generation to the next.

In my TEDx talk, I show how this process impacted me and my life and the steps I took to free myself of a legacy of trauma and shame that weren’t my own.

To work through my German heritage I had to re-examine preferred versions of history to include forgotten, darker truths. By suspending judgement and questioning easy black and white narratives of good/bad, victor/loser, the past became more nuanced. The creation of safe spaces to talk about and feel past trauma or wrongdoing, became one of the steps towards healing them.

Nobody is fully spared the impact of unresolved harm - whether familial or historical. No country is free of wrongdoing. The steps I took to liberate myself are steps we all can take. Indeed we need to take them in order to shed unconscious burdens and drivers that become potent disruptors of the present, subconsciously shaping current attitudes, policies and behaviour as they seek resolution. By doing so we become freer and better equipped to create kinder, fairer and more sustainable societies… for us and for future generations.

Contact Angela to discuss booking a longer version of this TEDx Talk for schools, societies or conferences...