The very first relationships we grow to develop are those with our parent/s. From the minute we’re conceived we start to develop a familiarity with what’s going on around us. When we’re born, we start to develop relationships with those around us. The way a baby cries, laughs, smiles, coos, etc all influences how others respond and is equally influenced by how they respond back. It’s a way of getting our needs met and it’s also a way of ensuring ongoing development. So what happens when our emotional development is compromised based on these early childhood relationships? 

We all know the importance of fuelling ourselves adequately for optical physical health. Our health professionals advise us that a healthy and balanced meal consists of protein, carbohydrates, fats, vegetables and fruit. This way we get all the vitamins and nutrients we need to function effectively.

A people pleaser is someone who considers someone else’s needs ahead of their own. Someone who will do whatever it takes to make others happy. Sounds nice, right? Well, yes. However, while being kind, agreeable and helpful to others are all positive traits, there are consequences to being a people pleaser. In putting other people first, people pleasers have a hard time or often end up not advocating for themselves. Sacrificing or neglecting themselves in the pursuit of pleasing others can lead to people to feel stressed, anxious and emotionally depleted. 

Screen time has become a large part of modern life, and it is increasingly common for children to spend time on screens. Screen time offers educational opportunities, social connection, entertainment and skill development and can be a wonderful way to spend time. Screen time however also has its drawbacks which can include a reduced amount of physical activity, disruption to sleep, reduced engagement in hobbies, reading and creative play, social isolation if children are missing face to face activities, exposure to inappropriate content and in serious cases, addiction.

Imposter syndrome is a psychological phenomenon where people doubt their skills, talents, and achievements and have a persistent fear of being exposed as a fraud or impostor in their professional or personal life, despite evidence to the contrary. It involves feeling like one doesn't belong, feeling like a fraud, fearing exposure, and feeling like everyone else is more competent.

Childhood trauma does not just come from what you experience physically, emotionally, etc. It doesn’t even have to be huge events. It can be micro in nature that accumulates, and it can also come from neglect, but neglect in the form of what we don’t experience as children and need to. The following examples are all situations that when lacking in our childhood, can lead to us developing unhealthy habits and expectations. When reading through each one have a think about what growing up was like for you and how the lack of these things could have impacted your development.