How ancient qualities align with modern resilience?

DURING an age of constant change, it is fascinating to consider: Do modern women still have the ancient instincts that helped our ancestors survive?

- ANOLENE THANGAVELU PILLAY Psychology advisor with a postgraduate degree in psychology, University of KwaZulu-Natal

Are those prehistoric forces still stewing beneath the surface, influencing our thoughts, emotions, and actions in subtle but powerful ways?

Could it be that beneath our polished, present-day roles, ancient forces are still quietly shaping our decisions — the way we nurture, protect, and respond under pressure? Are we truly as free as we believe we are?

Are we being unknowingly steered by inherited expectations — patterns that have been passed down not only through culture, but also possibly through biology?

According to modern psychology and neuroscience, trauma and emotional experiences can have an impact not only on individuals but also on generations, known as intergenerational trauma.

Are some of our stress responses today, like our sense of urgency and hyper-responsibility, mirroring what our grandmothers and great-grandmothers had to deal with?

However, the idea is supported by epigenetics, a field that studies how genes are switched on or off by our environment.

So, we might ask: Are we carrying not only our own life experiences, but also those of generations before us? Women have undergone a significant transformation in recent years, leaving traditional roles and taking on new opportunities.

Still, have we truly abandoned the antiquated mindset (outdated ways of thinking)? In the last few decades, women have redefined what it means to thrive by asserting autonomy and empowerment when they deviate from prescribed roles.