Self-Deception - Part Two - Elaborative Repression via Symbolization

Good morning friends! I invite you to take a moment and consider the fact that God has always known of you, even before He created the cosmos. Indeed, He has placed a unique and special purpose on your life. I pray, that, today is the beginning of your living to greater and greater extents in the power, love, and soundness of mind afforded us via God's Spirit (see II Timothy 1:7).

We've been covering the means by which we become conditioned to avoid dealing with life's distress. Such acts typically fall outside of God's will (see Ephesians 5:11; 6:10-13); and that which we think and do outside of God's will equates to sin. Thus, us followers of Christ would do well to acknowledge our sins (see Psalm 32:5; 51:3, 4), so that we can move off of these modes of thought/behavior (see Romans 6:1-22). Doing so helps us to align with the will of God (see Hebrews 12:1-6). In this way we more likely to be kept from the effects of our transgressions, and, as noted above,  live in the power, love, and soundness of mind afforded us through God's Spirit.

In today's post we'll be addressing a third coping mechanism found in elaborative repression known as symbolization. This occurs when an object or idea takes on a new meaning in which emotional energies related to some other matter are transferred onto the symbol. We actually engage in symbolism more than you might think, such as the way a wedding ring symbolizes a lifelong commitment and a love without end, or how the flag of the United States represents freedom to many Americans. However, when it comes to matters of repression, symbolization tends to distort our view of reality. For example, when Lizette was twelve, her uncle began to molest her. He threatened that if she ever told anyone, he would likely go to jail, and his brother (Lizette’s father) would be so angry with her that he would never forgive her. Because Lizette knew her father and uncle were close, she believed his lie and kept the abuse secret. As an adult, she practices symbolization by being tough; wherein she is highly oriented toward getting tasks done by taking charge in a direct, no nonsense manner. She is out to conquer her emotions, and holds others at bay through her impatience and anger. By doing so, Lizette succeeds in showing others (especially men) that she is in charge, which helps her to feel safer and less distressed. Yet her act of avoidance via this form of repression keeps Lizette stuck in the pain and anguish of her past abuse. Her ability to receive and reciprocate love is stifled, thwarting her purpose in life.

It is my sincere prayer these posts on self-deception are providing you with insight into the ways we can be conditioned into sin (i.e., ways of thinking/behaving that do not align with God's will). A portion of this post was excerpted from my book The Conditioned Mind. To discover more about repression and how it might be effecting your walk with Christ, click on the book title above to learn more.