Healing
I believe in healing. I believe humans possess an ability to heal. To heal the heart and to heal the soul. I believe they have the courage to heal. The courage to survive.
But I also believe humans suffer. Life is painful so therefore we suffer. Some suffer briefly. Some suffer longer. Some suffer through generations. I am certain we all suffer. As a therapist, I witness suffering. It is then that I am also witness to courage. To the struggle to survive.
But how do we heal our suffering? How has suffering impacted, or even shaped, your beliefs, thoughts, mood, reactions, and connections?
And how do we heal when our suffering leads us to feel helpless or fearful? Fear, our brain’s attempt to survive perceived threat, when overwhelmed, can prolong our suffering and inhibit our healing process.
I believe we are a world in need of healing. In need of connection. But how do we move towards healing and connection while overwhelmed with fears and perceived threats?
Mindfulness is one strategy to help us move towards healing while recognizing and accepting human existence will include times of suffering and pain. Mindfulness is simply the act of remaining aware of the present moment. Remaining aware and present as an emotion arises- even those uncomfortable emotions. And allow those emotions to be observed free from judgement. Remaining free from judgement is where most of us struggle with mindfulness. But learning to pause before attaching label to an emotion is a helpful tool to remain non-judgmental in mindfulness practice.
And learning to pause can make space for acceptance. Acceptance of your emotions, acceptance of your experience, acceptance of yourself, acceptance of your path, and acceptance of your ability to heal.
Remaining aware, free from attaching labels and judging, and working towards acceptance. Yes, indeed, I believe our world is in need of healing.
But I also believe humans suffer. Life is painful so therefore we suffer. Some suffer briefly. Some suffer longer. Some suffer through generations. I am certain we all suffer. As a therapist, I witness suffering. It is then that I am also witness to courage. To the struggle to survive.
But how do we heal our suffering? How has suffering impacted, or even shaped, your beliefs, thoughts, mood, reactions, and connections?
And how do we heal when our suffering leads us to feel helpless or fearful? Fear, our brain’s attempt to survive perceived threat, when overwhelmed, can prolong our suffering and inhibit our healing process.
I believe we are a world in need of healing. In need of connection. But how do we move towards healing and connection while overwhelmed with fears and perceived threats?
Mindfulness is one strategy to help us move towards healing while recognizing and accepting human existence will include times of suffering and pain. Mindfulness is simply the act of remaining aware of the present moment. Remaining aware and present as an emotion arises- even those uncomfortable emotions. And allow those emotions to be observed free from judgement. Remaining free from judgement is where most of us struggle with mindfulness. But learning to pause before attaching label to an emotion is a helpful tool to remain non-judgmental in mindfulness practice.
And learning to pause can make space for acceptance. Acceptance of your emotions, acceptance of your experience, acceptance of yourself, acceptance of your path, and acceptance of your ability to heal.
Remaining aware, free from attaching labels and judging, and working towards acceptance. Yes, indeed, I believe our world is in need of healing.
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