Memory Reconsolidation is something that we do naturally. It basically means to open a memory file, add new information, the close (reconsolidate) it back up.
Let's say that you lived in a house with your family until you were 5yrs old and then moved away. As an adult you want to go back and visit your childhood home. You remember there was an ice cream shop 1 mile away on the left but when you get there as an adult you find it was only 3 blocks away. In your brain you will open that file and add the new info and close it back up. It is forever changed.
When we revisit a painful memory and smell the calming oils while the file is open we are adding safe, calming and grounding information to that memory. We typically find one of two things will happen.
1. The memory will break up and fade into the background.
2 The memory will become less intense, you will get clarity and new perspective that is positive.
Once the memory has been reconsolidated with this new positive information you will find it effortless to change.