Eliminate What Triggers You
Trigger-
Cause (an event or situation) to happen or exist.
(of an event or situation) cause (someone) to do something.
(especially of something read, seen, or heard) distress (someone), typically as a result of arousing feelings or memories associated with a particular traumatic experience.
(Oxford Languages).
As a college academic success coach/advisor, I work with students to identify and overcome obstacles that hinder their academic performance. My goal is to set them up for success by teaching them practical strategies to put into practice. This may include time management strategies, studying techniques, and setting goals.
The first week of classes began. I met with my first-year students to discuss their goals for the semester, but before that, we did some reflection on what they did last semester. I asked, “What were some of your triggers the previous semester that caused you to down spiral?” Their first reaction was to pause as they reached back into their memories. I don’t think they were expecting it, and although many sat with their thoughts in silence before they could answer me, they found their truth and accepted it. It was then they could come up with a solution to eliminate triggers. The majority of them were self-aware, which was refreshing to witness.
About two weeks went by before I posed the same question to myself. What are my triggers? How do they affect my goals? So I reflected, dug deep, and realized some triggers I thought were eliminated, but they were just lying dormant and waiting on a circumstance to make themselves known. Why wasn’t I aware? I thought I dealt with it way back when, but I dealt with it by pushing it to the side because I thought it would not be as big of a priority if I was no longer in that same circumstance. That’s where I went wrong! We never prepare for war by waiting for our enemies to attack; we prepare by calculating their next move. Our attacks against the enemy must be deliberate and well practiced through obedience, prayer, fasting, and revelation.
We can accept Christ today and still deal with bondages because we must undergo the process of transformation, healing, and deliverance. We must recognize our shortcomings, take accountability, and turn away from them. Everything requires steps; shortcuts only lead to a lack of stamina and spiritual growth. To withstand the flesh, one must be self-aware and humble. Humility days, “search me God and know my heart” (Psalm 139). So I asked God, and in less than 24 hours, he revealed what my heart hid, what I didn’t know, to protect me from the same cycles of loss and defeat. Like my advisees, I found the truth and accepted it.
Triggers, if not recognized early, can trip us.
Here are a few people in the Bible who failed (God can redeem us if we’re willing) to deal with our triggers. Some God redeemed, and others, their stubbornness and pride, caused a mighty fall.
Saul- struggled with rejection, low self-esteem, jealousy, competition, and people-pleasing. Saul’s trigger was seeing other people succeed more than him. For this reason, he wanted to kill David, but Saul self-destructed instead (1 Samuel 3).
Esther struggled with fear and self-perseveration. She was ready to let her people die by genocide out of fear of losing favor and position. Mordecai, her cousin, reminded her that the same God could use someone else who was willing, but her disobedience would cost her. She chose to obey (Esther 4:16).
David- struggled with distractions, beautiful women (lust), and lying. David couldn’t even recognize himself when Samuel gave him a parable describing his wicked heart. It was the loss of his firstborn that David truly realized his mistake. Thankfully, he changed (2 Samuel 11). Yet, when we give in to triggers, we experience consequences.
Ahab struggled with the lust of the world, money, power, and fear. Ahab’s trigger was not getting what he wanted. He felt entitled and could not accept no for an answer. His stubbornness for power caused him to die, as did every male in his lineage (1 King 21).
I asked my students, and then I asked myself. So now, I pose the same question to you.
What are your triggers? What will keep you from success in 2025, and how will you eliminate it? Know this: if you partner with God and you adhere to his voice, what tried to stumble you will not be able to keep you down.
Be Encouraged,
Love Monica
