Self healing is a journey that involves the mind, body, and soul. It can be a very difficult journey, but it is important for one’s health.
During the interviews, the older adults stressed that maintaining intrinsic healing powers is vital for healthy aging. They emphasized the importance of exercise, healthy diets, good lifestyles, and positive interpersonal relationships.
Acknowledge Your Feelings
Emotional trauma, whether it’s from childhood abuse or a toxic relationship, leaves lasting wounds. It’s important to acknowledge the negative feelings that are a result of the trauma, even when you don’t want to feel them. Repressing emotions is not healthy and will cause more harm in the long run.
One way to validate your own feelings is through meditation. This practice helps you to connect with what you’re feeling at the emotional level, and then use a technique like mindfulness, loving-kindness, or visualization to send feelings of love to your inner child.
When someone shares something personal with you, it’s often because they want to be heard and understood. Validating their feelings is a way to show them that you see and understand them, even if you don’t agree with their opinion or solution. It’s also a way to encourage them to continue on their healing journey. A lot of the time, emotional healing takes a long time.
Practice Self-Care
Taking care of yourself is an essential part of self healing. This can include everything from getting enough sleep to exercising regularly to eating healthy food. Practicing self-care can lead to improved physical health, increased happiness and greater focus on daily tasks.
One example of practicing self-care would be scheduling a day for yourself to visit with friends. This is a great way to relax and get your mind off of stressful situations. It’s also a great way to reconnect with those who love and support you.
It’s important to remember that self-care isn’t a cure or treatment for mental illness. However, it can help prevent a person from becoming more withdrawn or depressed. It can also improve their ability to manage symptoms, as well as help them find the support they need. Self-care can be as simple as talking to a trusted friend or as complex as working with a professional therapist. It’s important to reassess your needs frequently, as they can change throughout the day.
Take Part in Healing Circles
Healing circles offer a safe space for individuals to express themselves without fear of judgment or repercussions. These groups operate from a place of compassion and understanding, recognizing that each person’s journey is unique. By encouraging group members to share their truths openly, this empathetic exchange allows for meaningful connections between participants.
Individuals in the group may provide emotional support, offer tips and strategies for coping with mental health issues, or encourage each other to be more resilient in their daily lives. They often approach healing from a holistic perspective, encompassing all aspects of the mind, body, and spirit.
For example, during a healing circle, a facilitator may provide what is called a talking piece to ensure each member enjoys uninterrupted time to talk about their experiences. This piece is passed from one participant to the next during the circle’s opening and closing rounds. During the closing round, participants can use this opportunity to make commitments to promote healing in their lives.
Include Supplements
Many people find that healing can be helped along with nutritional and herbal supplements. Always consult with your doctor before taking any supplements.
Consider spiritual practices such as meditation or Qigong to help you focus on the healing process. You may also wish to study religious or philosophical texts for guidance and solace. You can even meditate on positive feelings such as love or gratitude to encourage healing.
Try to avoid negative emotions and thoughts, which can hinder the healing process. Some people find it helpful to write letters to those who have hurt them or to an empty chair to get their negative feelings out of their system. Others use a form of spiritual communication called externalizing, which is where you speak aloud your thoughts and feelings to an impartial person. Lastly, you can take part in healing circles to help encourage the healing process. Also known as self-heal, this herb is used for infections, gastrointestinal problems (such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis), mouth and throat irritation, diarrhea, and stomach upset and irritation. It is also applied directly to the skin for vaginal discharges and other disorders of the female reproductive system and as a treatment for wounds.
