What is Healing?

Healing never happens in a straight line. Wherever we are today, that is enough and is a good place to start. I always tell my clients,

“Healing is a journey. It’s 2 steps forward and 4 steps back, it’s 1 step forward and 3 steps back.”

Sometimes, we can get frustrated with ourselves because we feel we aren’t healing “fast enough.” I often encourage folks to put aside the linear, all or nothing, black or white concept of right and wrong and let healing take up lots of space. When we try to box in, label, and control our healing journey, we can often stop it in it’s tracks. What would it feel like to acknowledge that even wanting to heal means you are already on the path and that you will progress forward, even if it’s not at the pace that you expect?

So, where do we start?

By first acknowledging what is going on for us and feeling into where we want to end up. Then, by finding a safe, nonjudgmental space in which we can share our journey. Do we need a therapist? A support group? A movement practice, like yoga or walking? An energy and body based practice, such as acupuncture, massage therapy or craniosacral therapy? Do we need a retreat or place to go to practice out different modalities and see what works for us?

There is no one right way to heal and different things are going to work for us, at different points in our journey. Keeping a journal and track of what we have learned can be very beneficial. It’s also ok to take breaks, pause and come back to doing the work. Gently reminding ourselves that healing is not like a math equation, where 1+1=2, but rather like creating a beautiful tapestry.