Connections That Heal

How Triggers Trick Us—and How to Find the Truth Instead

You're not broken. Triggers are there to help.

Learn why your triggers are signals, not enemies, and how to heal with compassion and truth.

I met up with two friends for a hike — which turned out to be a lovely, easy walk around a lake on a paved trail.

One friend had just returned from visiting family in an area where bears had been sighted. Thankfully, no one had been hurt, but the simple knowledge that bears were nearby had cast a shadow over her visit. Even the idea of going for a simple walk felt risky.

We were grateful that this park had no bear sightings... or at least none that we knew of.

The weather, the scenery, the company — everything was perfect.
We delighted in the turtles sunning themselves on logs, the way the sky reflected so clearly in the still water, and even in a playful "dinosaur sighting" — a quirky statue on a little island where Canadian geese wandered nearby, blissfully unaware.

There were hidden surprises too — festive ornaments tucked into a tree along the path, the kind of unexpected whimsy that makes you wonder about the story behind it.

But not everything we saw felt delightful at first.

As we curved around a bend in the trail, I noticed something dark in the woods.

My friend's eyes widened — she had seen it too. Dark, furry, with what looked like a nose and eyes.

Her recent experience with bears kicked in immediately.
I instinctively reached out and touched her arm, gently saying, "It's not a bear."

At that moment, she realized it too.

We both laughed — maybe a little nervously — and cautiously kept walking, just in case.

As we got closer, the "bear" came into better view...
and it was very clearly not a bear.
We exhaled and laughed for real this time.

We knew we were safe.

When we meet our triggers with curiosity instead of fear, we take a powerful step

toward freedom.

Triggers Are Like That "Bear."

They pop up when we least expect them. They feel scary. Sometimes they fool us into believing we’re in danger again — even when we’re not.

But when we slow down, get curious, and look at a trigger from different angles, we can see the truth underneath the fear.

And the more often we do that?
The more quickly we recognize when we're safe.
The less hold those old triggers have over us.
The more easily we can tell when real caution is needed — and when it isn’t.

Later that day, we came around another corner. Another dark something in the woods.

But this time?
Our hearts stayed calm.
Our bodies didn't brace for impact.
We smiled.

We knew we were safe.

"Then you will experience for yourselves the truth, and the truth will free you."— John 8:32 (The Message)

Disclaimer: Not all triggers clear this quickly or easily, especially after years or decades of trauma. Healing is a process.

But this story reminds me — and I hope it reminds you — that with practice, compassion, and truth, healing is absolutely possible.