How Witches Can Combat Learned Helplessness

Have you experienced being bullied as a child?
What added more pain was that my parents ignored me when they were supposed to protect me … from my own brother.

As a child, I learned that I did not matter, and I learned that I could not change things.

Perhaps, this was part of my attraction to Wicca. The God and Goddess are the loving beings who I needed.

When you’re conditioned to think that you don’t count or that you can’t improve things, you’re vulnerable to Learned Helplessness.

Learned helplessness occurs when an individual continuously faces a negative, uncontrollable situation and stops trying to change their circumstances, even when they have the ability to do so. – from Psychology Today

In recent years, I think about how I want to be free from Learned Helplessness. Perhaps, you’re like me, and you want to unlearn what ultimately hurts you.

Recently, I was reading the 13 Principles of Wiccan Belief from The American Council of Witches.

“We believe that we should seek within Nature that which is contributory to our health and well-being.” – The 13 Principles of Wiccan Belief from The American Council of Witches

My concern is that if we seek comfort or validation from “the outside” (including broadcast news and social media), we may fall into Learned Helplessness.

“Learned helplessness is the giving-up reaction, the quitting response that follows from the belief that whatever you do doesn’t matter.” – Martin E.P. Seligman

As witches, we can go to the God and Goddess for a true sense of self-worth. We can also enhance our perspective. Life is a classroom and a person is interacting with the Gods about the curriculum. Before we are incarnated, we set up a curriculum with the Gods. This curriculum is activated when we incarnate.

“While you can’t control your experiences, you can control your explanations.” – Martin E.P. Seligman

I can explain to myself that I have choices now. I can look upon the times when I was bullied as a child as possible training. I’ve learned to protect myself and my family members. I can even guide a vendor to treat myself or a family member in a fair manner. I learned as a child that some individuals hurt others. So, I learned that it is important to develop appropriate skills. This is in line with my thought that life is a classroom.

I return to my plan to look to the Gods for the truth. They are the Beings who love me and guide me.

I invite you to reexamine certain situations in life, and then ask yourself, “Is there something I am not seeing?” Perhaps, you’ll meditate or do ritual to connect with the Gods, so They expand your perspective.

May these insights support your life journey.

Blessed Be,
Moonwater