“When you live in an old house, you may not want to go into the basement after a storm to see what the rains have brought. But choose not to look at your own peril. We're all like homeowners who've inherited a house on a piece of land that's beautiful on the outside, but the soil is unstable. People often say, ‘I had nothing to do with how this all started.’ And yes, not one of us was around when this
house was built. But here we are, the current occupants of a property with stress cracks built into the foundation and a roof that must be replaced. We are the heirs to whatever is right or wrong with it. We didn't direct the uneven pillars, but they are ours to deal with now. The cracks won't fix themselves. Any more deterioration is on our watch”.
This quote from the film Origin (Dir. Ava DuVernay, 2023) resonates deeply at an individual, family, and institutional level. It highlights a truth that is often uncomfortable but necessary to acknowledge: the past has a profound impact on our present, whether we choose to recognise it or not.
The Temptation to Suppress The Past
It can be very tempting for us to suppress thoughts about the past or ignore the things that happened in our early lives, within our families, or in our institutions that continue to affect us today. There are aspects of trauma, dysfunction, and shame that lie under the surface, much like the hidden cracks in the foundation of an old home. We might convince ourselves that if we just focus on the present, these cracks will remain hidden, and everything will be fine.
However, just as an old home’s foundation becomes more unstable after a storm, unresolved issues can weaken our foundations, and when we experience additional stress and “life’s storms”, they can significantly impact our mental health and relationships. If we do not seal the cracks in the foundations, they can begin to affect our current functioning and our ability to relate well to those around us.
Why Therapy Often Involves Revisiting the Past
This is why therapy will sometimes involve revisiting and understanding our past, our family origins, and how we have been affected by the institutions that influenced us when we were young. It is not about dwelling on the past or assigning blame. Rather, it is about gaining a clearer understanding of the "stress cracks" in our psychological foundations, so we can repair them and build a more stable and fulfilling life.
By exploring the basement of our minds, we can bring light to the hidden corners, acknowledge the damage, and begin the necessary work of restoration. It is a process that requires courage, but it is also one that leads to greater self-awareness, healing, and the ability to move forward with a stronger foundation.
Cracks in Institutional Foundations
Institutions hold significant power in shaping our lives, much like the structural elements of a house that determine its stability and safety. In Australia, the legacy of institutional decisions affecting Indigenous peoples is akin to deep cracks in the foundation of our collective home. Policies such as forced assimilation, the Stolen Generations, and the suppression of Indigenous languages and cultural practices have created intergenerational trauma that continues to affect the mental health and well-being of individuals within Indigenous communities today. These unresolved cracks remind us that the damage done by institutions doesn’t just fade with time—it requires conscious effort to repair if we are to build a stronger, more just society.
Similarly, spiritual institutions can influence the structure of our personal and collective identity. For some, these religious institutions have served as pillars of support and hope, but for others, experiences within spiritual communities have introduced stress cracks in the form of spiritual abuse and religious trauma. When these institutions or the people within them make decisions that lead to harm, this can lead to feelings of distress, confusion, and alienation, much like discovering that a once-trusted wall in your home is beginning to crumble. In therapy, addressing the impact of these spiritual institutions allows individuals to assess the integrity of their internal structure, making necessary repairs to support a more stable and fulfilling life. For leaders within these religious institutions, recognising and addressing the cracks left by past mistakes can lead to healing and help lay a much stronger foundation and safety for those currently within their walls.
Conclusion
Whether we are examining the cracks in our personal lives or those that run through the institutions that have shaped us, the house we inhabit—our mind, our families, and our institutions—requires attention, maintenance, and care. Just as an old home cannot stand strong on a weak foundation, we cannot ignore the past, whether it's the unresolved traumas from our personal histories or the systemic issues rooted in the institutions that have influenced us. By choosing to address these cracks—be they in our individual psyche or within the walls of our spiritual and societal institutions—we take responsibility for the integrity of our present and future. Through this process of acknowledgment and repair, we can rebuild with a stronger, more resilient foundation, ensuring that our house remains a place of stability, growth, and hope for ourselves and those who come after us. Ultimately, “any more deterioration is on our watch”.
Kylie Walls is a registered psychologist who aims to guide her clients as they curate the pieces of their past to create a story of hope for the future. See www.curatedmind.com.au to learn more.
Image by Iftikhar Alam, Vecteezy.
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