Samskara in daily life
On occasion, when my daughter disagrees with me, tells me what to do or say, or seems to be ignoring me, I feel strong emotions rising.
In those moments, I stop listening. My inner voice takes over, “She doesn’t hear me. She thinks she knows it all…” Before I know it, I say something that makes everything worse, like “You never listen to me!” Then the conversation spirals—emotional, off-topic, and disconnected.
Michael Singer’s podcasts have helped me
Thanks to Michael Singer’s podcasts—and through the practice of breath, mantra, and meditation—I’ve become more adept at hearing her without reacting in such a dramatic way. The conversations are calmer. Fewer buttons get pushed. We don’t find ourselves in the same pattern.
Reflecting on this shift, I realize: there was no tension coming from her. It was all in my response. This dynamic has now changed. It has softened. I have changed.
I have never been a proponent of a contemplating the source of my emotions. Instead, I’ve treated them as energies to observe, relax into, and release.
Samskaras pattern reality
But recently, ChatGPT suggested I look at patterns—possibly from childhood or earlier relationships. That gave me pause. And as I reflected, I began to see my younger self in these same charged interactions with my parents. The echo was unmistakable.
I always blamed my parents. However, now I feel a kind of compassion—for them, and for myself. I see that these samskaras aren’t just momentary reactions. They are unfinished business from the past, surfacing now for resolution.
I will continue to recognize and release emotional energy as it arises—but when I’m calm again, I will also look deeper. Not to dwell, but to widen the lens. These insights feel like part of a larger framework for growth.
Do you notice reactive patterns in your life? How do you handle them?
Thank you. Om, Bob