The Scene staff
Take a moment and imagine what would happen if you didn’t take out the trash.
A full trash bag has been sitting in your home for a few days. Banana peels are starting to rot. Meat thrown away from Thursday’s dinner is starting to stink. The few drops left in the milk carton are starting to curdle.
The combination of smells swirl together to create that oh-so-familiar, “it’s-time-to-take-out-the-trash” stench.
Our emotional and mental health can be compared to this trash bag when we choose not to heal or deny the healing we need.
Everyone needs healing, whether it be from sexual or emotional abuse, assault, neglect, crime, domestic violence, a serious accident or illness or the death of a loved one.
No one is free from pain, strife or wrong dealings. Sadly, as a society, we often deny ourselves the wonderful gift of healing. The gift of sitting with our pain. Getting to know it. Learning from it.
Being grateful for it.
Instead, we choose to pile trash on top of trash, causing emotions to become trapped. We stuff in so-called “negative” emotions in order to move forward with life.
But people shouldn’t get intimidated by the word “heal.” Healing is a powerful tool to which we all have access. Healing is the process of making things whole again. Simply moving forward with life is not living a life of abundance.
Healing must happen for the body to be at ease, ultimately taking burdens off the mind and soul. It’s restoration.
Here are three steps I’ve been following to guide healing in my life:
1. Understand the pain
Don’t dismiss it or make it a friend. Don’t tell yourself hurtful things such as, “Get over it.” You don’t have to get over it. Pain is a part of life. Understanding the “whys” behind pain will help you overcome it.
2. Marinate in your discomfort
Understanding pain is not a comfortable process. Allow yourself to feel everything. Do not deny anything. Marinate in your discomfort. Try embracing your “negative” emotions as positive. Focus on the benefits you’ve received from them. This is a crucial step to becoming more familiar with your personal inner workings.
3. Create peace with your trauma
The path to peace is different for different people. Whatever speaks to you the loudest, follow that path. Is it finding God? Which God speaks to you the most? Does meditation intrigue you? Will a new diet plan or a therapist help guide your movement toward peace? In creating peace, learn not to blame the past. Instead, observe what it is and embrace it.
Taking the time to understand your pain, marinate in your discomfort and create peace with the past are undeniably courageous things to do; they’re not easy. However, once you’ve fully realized and accepted everything, you can begin your path to recovery.
After you’ve taken out the trash and cleansed your mind … that is the time to discover your true self.
Today, I encourage you to stop sleepwalking through life. Stop letting your heart be clouded by hurt, pain, anger and disappointment. Allow yourself to elegantly soar through this life with an open heart, mind, understanding and confidence.
I’m excited about your future. May the space around you stay sacred. May your mind stay flowing. And may your heart stay open.