In Scripture we see regular references to “remembrance” and directions to “remember”. Memories can hold keys to self-awareness, healing, and peace with God, within one’s self, and even with others.
Below is a link to an excellent resource from Biblical Counseling Coalition for considering how to work the practice of remembering into spiritual healing work. At Titus 2’s life recovery program we also use an exercise in which individuals list memorable events from their lives and then write out a timeline of their lives. The Life Experience Timeline worksheet is modified from the SHAPE worksheet from Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren and supports the Step 4 “fearless and searching inventory” in the Twelve Step Process that our students work through.. Very often events in childhood or adolescence can be identified as points of trauma or significant emotional events that can trigger PTSD, anxiety, guilt, or shame. Such events may also reflect events that imprinted as significant assumptions or worldview positions.
Life Experiences Timeline to Mark Points of Growth or Delays in Progress.
Name____________________________________________ Date______________________
What are the top 5-7 positive experiences of your life that you clearly recall having an impact on your life? They may be from home, work, school, recreation, leisure, etc. It can be some accomplishment, recognition, personal satisfaction, etc. These should be experiences you enjoyed and made you feel fulfilled.
Also, if you are particularly open and willing to explore deeper work in your lifeline and spiritual growth, list 3-5 negative experiences of your life that opened your eyes to truths you had not previously understood or that introduced you to dilemmas, conflicts or emotional confusion. These may represent traumatic experiences that left behind confusion or pain that you resolved as you matured emotionally and spiritually or that you are still attempting to resolve in your maturing spiritual journey.
Approx. age: Theme/Lesson/Experience: and (+) or (-) Why it is meaningful to me:
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Arrange the experiences on a horizontal timeline that runs from earliest age of memories to current age.
Is there a theme to these experiences? Or recurring patterns?
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