The other day, I was sitting by a small, pretty creek in the forest. I was admiring a young aspen tree, listening to the tinkling sounds of the water rushing over the rocks, and noticing the sparkly play of light on the water. My heart opened and suddenly my mind went back to a certain challenging time in my life. I began to understand why I had acted in a harsh way back then. I got to the deeper truth and was able to forgive myself. It was a very profound moment for me that felt miraculous, since I had been unable to forgive myself before that.
Connecting with a sense of something greater
There is a consistent source of affirmation I tap into that I call the Source of Love, or just Source. I see the Source of Love as an all-permeating energy that knows the truth of me and has my best interests at heart.
For me, Source can be found in the soothing energy of nature, the sounds of particularly moving music, the feeling of community, making art, moving my body freely, journaling my true thoughts or feelings, meditating, or saying a sincere prayer from my heart.
There is always a way to tap into something greater than my usual hurried self allows. Tapping in soothes me, calms me, enhances my self-understanding and self-compassion, and reminds me of my innate enough-ness.
Do you have a connection to something greater than yourself which feels supportive and loving? Some people call this all pervading energy Unconditional Love, Infinite Wisdom, God, Creator, etc. Others might connect to a guardian angel or spiritual guide.
If you have not yet nurtured such a connection, it can be a fun adventure to explore what that might be like for you, knowing that there is no right or wrong way, as long as it is positive and uplifting.
Caring for my body
I recently wanted to begin a yoga practice but it seemed daunting. It had been many years since I had done yoga and I was out of shape. In spite of my trepidation, I was able to get started by telling myself I would only do it for 5 minutes each time. Because I set the bar low, I was willing to try, and since then I’ve been pretty consistent. I have become more flexible, and I have renewed faith in myself to be able to do things that seem intimidating.
Caring for my physical being reinforces the belief that I am worthy of taking care of myself, and it has a calming effect on my mind and emotions.
Some other types of physical self-care that I engage in are:
Getting regular medical exams.
Eating food that is healthy and nourishing.
Resting when I need to.
Walking slowly and mindfully, feeling every step and appreciating what I see around me.
Energetic exercise that lifts my mood, such as walking briskly or dancing to music I enjoy.
What kind of physical self-care would help you feel better physically and emotionally?
Support for the journey
“No person …should have to be so alone. There must be those among whom we can sit down and weep, and still be counted as warriors” ― Adrienne Rich Read
Being on a healing journey does not mean that I am always feeling great about myself, confident, or calm. There are inevitable ups and downs that are an inherent part of the path. However, I still count myself as a warrior, because even though I have low points, I keep moving forward, and I can look back and see that I have made great progress.
A large part of what gives me the courage to continue is the help and support I receive from others. These precious people have witnessed my struggles and still see my worthiness. Over the years, I have engaged with professionals (coaches or therapists, for example), a support group, and trusted friends. It sometimes took time, but I always kept searching until I found the right person to help me. Then I searched again when I needed more or a different kind of help. Truly, I could not have come so far by myself.
Can you give yourself the gift of finding the right helper(s)?
Fun and joy
“When you do things from your soul, you feel a river moving in you, a joy.”― Rumi
A healing journey can include fun and joy, rather than just being somber and serious. Some of the relationships I have made while on my healing path are delightful. We laugh and enjoy times of lightness together even while delving into inner work. Likewise, working with my clients and witnessing them heal and grow brings me immense joy and fulfillment.
To be honest, without a healthy dose of fun in my life, I easily feel gloomy and morose. But fun doesn’t always happen by itself! I try to work fun into my schedule regularly. This can sometimes be as simple as 5 minutes of dancing at home, taking dancing lessons, making art with a blatant disregard of what it “should” be like, watching a comedian online, visiting a trusted friend, or singing along to my favorite music.
Do you have enough fun in your life, or do you need to fold it into your routine?
Healing without perfectionism
I used to think that one day, I would be “healed”, which to me meant always being fully confident and in a good mood. Now I know that a healing journey is actually gradual and infinite, yet very rewarding. There isn’t an end point, unless I choose to stop.
I am generally in a much better place than I used to be, but there is still potential for me to feel more peaceful, live more purposefully, improve my relationships, and feel more whole.
We are worthy of accepting ourselves as imperfect, evolving beings, just as a newborn lamb who is stumbling around on its wobbly legs is worthy of love, attention, and tender care. With our sincere intentions and actions through both the easier times and the more challenging times, our healing will unfold in the right way and at the right speed for each of us.
Healing is a sacred journey, a worthy journey, and it is rich with purpose and meaning. May you find ways to enrich it and make it smoother and may it bring you to where you want to be.
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