When dealing with physical injuries and emotional pain, I noticed a connection. We have plenty of doctors for our physical ailments, but what about our emotions? This led me to create a step-by-step process of healing emotional wounds as if they are physical wounds.
Are you ready to start healing yourself?
Are you ready to start healing yourself?
1. Remove yourself from what is causing you pain
Depending on the situation, this could be temporary while you heal, or a permanent choice. Recognize who or what is causing the pain. Next, be your own advocate and change locations, or limiting/cease contact with that person while you go through this process.
If you are not able to remove yourself from this person or situation, you will continue to be triggered. This is actually a good thing! Triggers show you where you are hurting. Triggers show you the parts that long to be seen and heard -- by you! You may even get to a point where there's no way to avoid the healing process. With certain issues, I have to be pushed to my breaking point before I will face what's really going on inside.
Once you make the decision to start your healing process, removing yourself from these triggers will allow you to focus in on your wounds.
Depending on the situation, this could be temporary while you heal, or a permanent choice. Recognize who or what is causing the pain. Next, be your own advocate and change locations, or limiting/cease contact with that person while you go through this process.
If you are not able to remove yourself from this person or situation, you will continue to be triggered. This is actually a good thing! Triggers show you where you are hurting. Triggers show you the parts that long to be seen and heard -- by you! You may even get to a point where there's no way to avoid the healing process. With certain issues, I have to be pushed to my breaking point before I will face what's really going on inside.
Once you make the decision to start your healing process, removing yourself from these triggers will allow you to focus in on your wounds.
1. Start a cleansing ritual
It's possible that you know you are hurting, but you don't know why. Over the years, one adds bandages to the initial injury, layer by layer, to the point where one forgets why this started in the first place. These bandages are like coping mechanisms we set in place to avoid or manage unbearable pain.
All of this is fine, because you needed to cope during that time of your life. Perhaps you have noticed that your coping bandages are not working anymore. Now, for any work to be done, you must clear those away. At this point they are blockages to your wound, and are not supporting you anymore.
Starting a cleansing ritual will begin to clear away those inner blockages. Pick an activity that makes sense for your lifestyle & personality, and add it to your daily routine. What you feel drawn to is a good place to start. Consider connecting with nature, physically cleaning your surroundings, making your bathtub or shower a sanctuary, or eating more fruit and vegetables. Let yourself be inspired to try something new!
When it comes to connecting with nature, we can start with the four main elements: water, fire, air, & earth. Using your senses, think of ways you'd like to interact with each element. While you are participating in an activity of connection with an element, imagine it cleansing through your thoughts & emotions. In an upcoming secret adventure, I will go into more detail on this topic.
It's possible that you know you are hurting, but you don't know why. Over the years, one adds bandages to the initial injury, layer by layer, to the point where one forgets why this started in the first place. These bandages are like coping mechanisms we set in place to avoid or manage unbearable pain.
All of this is fine, because you needed to cope during that time of your life. Perhaps you have noticed that your coping bandages are not working anymore. Now, for any work to be done, you must clear those away. At this point they are blockages to your wound, and are not supporting you anymore.
Starting a cleansing ritual will begin to clear away those inner blockages. Pick an activity that makes sense for your lifestyle & personality, and add it to your daily routine. What you feel drawn to is a good place to start. Consider connecting with nature, physically cleaning your surroundings, making your bathtub or shower a sanctuary, or eating more fruit and vegetables. Let yourself be inspired to try something new!
When it comes to connecting with nature, we can start with the four main elements: water, fire, air, & earth. Using your senses, think of ways you'd like to interact with each element. While you are participating in an activity of connection with an element, imagine it cleansing through your thoughts & emotions. In an upcoming secret adventure, I will go into more detail on this topic.
3. When you are in a safe place, allow yourself to feel deep into the pain
Good news: pain doesn't last forever! Feeling deep into the pain actually lessens it over time. Pain stays tucked away in your body/heart until it has been felt all the way through.
Imagine this as having a cup filled with purple liquid. When you take time to feel into the pain, this liquid is poured out drop by drop. So take your time. . . you don't have to pour it out all at once. The more you take time to feel it, the less pain is in your cup!
Here is the "moment of truth" where you face what is inside. It's like looking into a mirror, but instead of seeing your outer reflection, you're looking inward to a place that has been unseen. Start by focusing your attention to the place in your body where you feel the emotion (your heart, throat, stomach, etc). Next, acknowledge this part of you by talking to and asking it questions: "Hello heart, I see you in there. I know you are hurting because I can feel the ache. Will you tell me why you are hurt?"
Sometimes all you can do is feel the ache, and you do not have a reason. Let that be felt for as long as you can in one session. When the reason for the pain comes up in your mind, remember: focus on how you feel. This is not a time to focus on the other person. It's about your emotional response.
Good news: pain doesn't last forever! Feeling deep into the pain actually lessens it over time. Pain stays tucked away in your body/heart until it has been felt all the way through.
Imagine this as having a cup filled with purple liquid. When you take time to feel into the pain, this liquid is poured out drop by drop. So take your time. . . you don't have to pour it out all at once. The more you take time to feel it, the less pain is in your cup!
Here is the "moment of truth" where you face what is inside. It's like looking into a mirror, but instead of seeing your outer reflection, you're looking inward to a place that has been unseen. Start by focusing your attention to the place in your body where you feel the emotion (your heart, throat, stomach, etc). Next, acknowledge this part of you by talking to and asking it questions: "Hello heart, I see you in there. I know you are hurting because I can feel the ache. Will you tell me why you are hurt?"
Sometimes all you can do is feel the ache, and you do not have a reason. Let that be felt for as long as you can in one session. When the reason for the pain comes up in your mind, remember: focus on how you feel. This is not a time to focus on the other person. It's about your emotional response.
Your emotions are allowed.
They need to be felt & understood by you.
They need to be felt & understood by you.
4. Express your feelings
Think of how you like to express yourself generally. I like to talk, write, dance, and make music. Discover what this is for you, make time for the expression, and you will see your inner world start to flourish.
Think of how you like to express yourself generally. I like to talk, write, dance, and make music. Discover what this is for you, make time for the expression, and you will see your inner world start to flourish.
- If you are a creative person, you may feel moved to play an instrument or make a piece of art. The finished product is not of concern, because in the process itself is where the emotion is expressed.
- You may be someone who expresses a feeling by sounding it out with your voice, such as crying or screaming. I personally love this form of expression. Go to a place where you feel safe and are not disturbing anyone. Then cry or scream for as long as you can stand it, until all of that pain is felt and let out into the air.
- You might need a physical expression, such ripping apart a cardboard box, or through a dramatic dance. Pick anything that involves body movement and works your muscles, but does not hurt others.
5. Use remedies that are specific to the area of injury
The list below are techniques that I have benefited from, & there are plenty more out there. If you discover something that makes sense for your lifestyle & personality, then you have found a match!
Basically what you can do is identify the areas of your body where you feel an ache. When you are in physical pain, there is emotional pain that coincides with it. Emotional pain is trying to get your attention through built-up pain in your physical body.
The list below are techniques that I have benefited from, & there are plenty more out there. If you discover something that makes sense for your lifestyle & personality, then you have found a match!
Basically what you can do is identify the areas of your body where you feel an ache. When you are in physical pain, there is emotional pain that coincides with it. Emotional pain is trying to get your attention through built-up pain in your physical body.
TALK THERAPY
SOUND
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PHYSICAL THERAPY
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ITEMS IN NATURE
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6. Rest . . . & let the wound breathe fresh air
You've done so much hard work, so in this step, we're celebrating!! The healing process is an arduous path that creates breathing room for your soul. When those stuck parts begin to breathe, it allows for more movement and openness than you could experience before.
Take time for things that bring you joy! Try an activity that is both fun and you lose track of time doing. What does "breathing room" look like for your life right now?
You've done so much hard work, so in this step, we're celebrating!! The healing process is an arduous path that creates breathing room for your soul. When those stuck parts begin to breathe, it allows for more movement and openness than you could experience before.
Take time for things that bring you joy! Try an activity that is both fun and you lose track of time doing. What does "breathing room" look like for your life right now?
7. Feel gratitude in the knowing that healing is happening
Gratitude is a key that unlocks the end result you desire. For this step, notice any progress in the areas you've focused on.
When you realize something is shifting for you, gratitude clears the way to allow for more healing in your life. Focus on your progress, and let the golden light of gratitude fill your whole body.
Gratitude is a key that unlocks the end result you desire. For this step, notice any progress in the areas you've focused on.
- Think of where in your body your emotional pain has been residing. How does it feel now?
- When you think of the person or situation where you were hurt, how do you feel now?
When you realize something is shifting for you, gratitude clears the way to allow for more healing in your life. Focus on your progress, and let the golden light of gratitude fill your whole body.