We all have things that have affected us so deeply that we are left broken. But the strongest of us stand up and accept what happened to us and begin to focus on healing.
Healing is a process. It’s not something that happened overnight, and it’s ongoing. You need to continue to work on yourself. But it’s something that we all need. So, let’s make your healing journey easier with the following steps.
Things to Do on a Healing Journey
Acknowledge and Accept Your Pain
Many people bury their pain deep within. They avoid it because facing it is uncomfortable. Yet, the first step on your healing journey is to bring this pain into your awareness. Take a moment to closely examine and fully feel your pain. It may be challenging to access emotions or memories that have been suppressed for a long time, but beginning to acknowledge these feelings is an important way to start. Consider keeping a journal to document what surfaces as you delve into your experiences. Writing not only acts as a therapeutic activity but also helps you monitor your progress.
Set Boundaries
You have the right to establish personal boundaries in your relationships to maintain your comfort and safety. Feel empowered to decline requests or set limits, like reducing the frequency of phone calls or denying visits at unwelcome times. Your boundaries might vary depending on the individual involved—you might welcome frequent visits from a sibling while preferring to limit interactions with another. You need to clearly define and expect respect for these boundaries. This is a key component of your healing journey.
Set Your Intentions and Goals
Reflect on what you aim to achieve on your journey. Establishing clear intentions and goals provides direction and helps in communicating your needs to those who support you. Common objectives might include forgiving past hurts, grieving a loss, overcoming fears of new relationships, or building self-esteem. Defining these goals can focus your efforts and aid in achieving substantial progress on your healing journey.
Advocate for Yourself
Advocate for your own needs and desires assertively. Whether it’s pursuing further education, seeking medical advice, or making significant life decisions, ensure that your actions align with your best interests. If you require assistance, do not hesitate to ask for it and pursue the necessary steps to meet your goals. Being proactive in advocating for yourself is vital to continuing your healing journey and achieving personal fulfillment.
Seek Support
During your healing journey, it’s important to surround yourself with supportive individuals—those who can provide encouragement, check in on you, and offer guidance. If possible, consider working with a therapist who can expertly guide you through your healing journey. A skilled therapist knows how to challenge you when necessary and provide space for your emotions without overwhelming you.
Transform Negative Thoughts
Negative self-perceptions can cloud your mind. Actively replacing these thoughts with positive affirmations can significantly improve your mental outlook. For example, if you catch yourself thinking, “Nobody likes me,” consciously replace it with, “I am valued by my friends.” Similarly, if you doubt your recovery, remind yourself, “Every day, I am healing and improving,” to create a more positive mindset on your healing journey. If you’re looking for inspirational stories about healing journeys, then you should read “The Flight To Freedom” by Trina Frierson. It’s a beautiful story about dealing with life’s adversities and transforming your mistakes into successes.
Embrace Self-Care
Listen closely: self-care is more than indulging in temporary pleasures like bubble baths or facials. True self-care involves activities that enhance your overall well-being. This includes setting boundaries, effectively communicating your needs even when it’s difficult, and consistently being your authentic self. These practices are not only beneficial during your healing journey but are also essential life skills.
Find Healthy Ways to Release Stuck Emotions
Releasing deep-seated emotions can be transformative. For instance, one effective method might be physically expelling these emotions through safe but vigorous activities, like punching pillows or a mattress, as a way to bring those “stuck” feelings to the surface. After such a release, it’s common to feel a sense of relief, which is often followed by a cathartic cry. You can explore and identify what methods work best for you to express and manage your emotions constructively.
Barriers to Healing
There are many things that can act as obstacles in your healing journey. Let’s see what to avoid.
Letting Fear into the Driver’s Seat
Without our conscious knowledge, our bodies can default to survival mode more frequently than necessary. You need to recognize subtle signals that indicate your body’s danger response, such as sudden muscle tension or an increased heart rate. When you notice these signs, pause to take a deep breath and reassure your mind that there is no immediate threat.
Trying to Be the Best at Healing
Do you find yourself obsessing over healing perfectly, perhaps overdoing therapeutic exercises and being overly critical of your progress? If so, it’s important to ease up on yourself. Healing is a personal process, not a race or competition. Putting excessive pressure on yourself can hinder your healing journey, which can lead to frustration and feelings of inadequacy.
Focusing on All Work, No Play
If you think healing is solely about hard work and erasing past pain, think again. Creating new, positive pathways in your nervous system is also important, and this includes embracing joy, play, and gratitude. These elements are not just enjoyable—they are vital components of your healing journey.
Unconsciously Hanging onto the “Sunny Side” of Pain
Over time, chronic pain might become a part of your identity, making change difficult—even when it’s beneficial. Recognizing the subtle benefits that chronic pain may provide can make it easier to let go of them and fully commit to your healing journey.
Not Putting Yourself on the List of People to Take Care of
It’s common to prioritize helping others over taking care of oneself, especially during challenging times. But, placing your own healing needs last can be detrimental. Consider setting a specific time for your own healing—mark it on your calendar as an unmovable appointment. This dedicated ‘healing time’ is important for your own recovery and should be protected just as you would protect time set aside for others.
Conclusion
Your healing journey is very personal. While it’s good to take advice and employ helpful tips, at the end of the day, you need to do what works for you. Trina Frierson, author of The Flight to Freedom, aims to share a similar message. After years of struggling with addiction, the author found her redemption by getting support and therapy and acquiring job skills that are crucial for recovery.
Despite experiencing life on the streets, incarceration, and losing custody of her children, Trina found the strength to move forward.
You can, too.
Grab your copy today.
