Intentional Part To Healing
Healing is an intricate process, and it does not take place with the passage of time or simply by putting some distance between the sources of pain. This approach should be conscious, intentional, and creating an environment conducive to the process of healing. As we go through all the complex feelings and thoughts making up our emotional well-being, we have to understand that we heal by the mere fact that we create a railroading environment for healing. It is not going to happen on its own; it has to happen with purpose. To be healed is basically to be witnessed, seen, and acknowledged.
A “healing container” is simply a safe space to allow ourselves to confront our wounds, reflect on our experiences, and express our emotions without fear of judgment. Such containers can take many forms: a support group, therapy sessions, close friendships, or even personal rituals that make way for introspection and self-care. What they all have in common is intentionality.
These are all meant to produce growth, acceptance, and change. Intentionality is at the heart of any right kind of healing. When we make the choice to heal-doing so with intent-we engage in a process of confronting our pain, not pushing it away. This decision allows us to take responsibility for the journey ourselves and to recognize that while we may not have chosen our wounds, we can certainly choose how to respond to them. Now, part of being supportive about our own healing is to set aside time and space for focusing on our own well-being and engaging in practices that will nourish our spirit, connecting with those who will support our growth.
At the center of healing is the act of being witnessed, seen, and acknowledged. The ultimate empowerment comes through the validation of our pain by others. When one is genuinely seen in their vulnerability, comfort and also a sense of not being alone in the struggle are provided. This act of acknowledgment can be transformational in releasing shame and isolation around our wounds. It is not about our problems being fixed or the pain we experience being removed; rather, it is them witnessing our experiences and emotions. Such acknowledgment of life’s circumstances helps in affirming life’s realities and remembering that we are not invisible, even at the darkest hour of our lives.
It is here that we are seen, and a real sense of connection is created that catapults the idea that we are part of one human experience. How then do we create a container for such healing? First of all, it is important that one knows what they want according to their healing journey. Is it a quiet place for reflecting? Is it a friend or a therapist? It helps you create a container for your healing. Once you’ve identified this need, you know that you need to set consistent boundaries with others inside the container. You may need to carve out times for self-care or emotionally set boundaries with others.
Find a support network where other people can bear witness to your experience without blame (We Recommend The Health Gospel). This person/Group could be a friend, support group, or professional. The key is finding people that will hold space for whatever your healing looks like. Undoubtedly, healing is a winding and not a direct process dependent on adaptability and openness to paradigm shifts.
Allow your being to develop within the container of healing and let the lessons of each phase of healing be a guide. Keep in mind that healing is an eventful process; oftentimes, it dredges up lots of painful feelings. So, please go easy on yourself and show compassion for your person. It’s a very intimate, deliberate process that longs to be housed in a container. So in creating containers for healing-be it community, therapy, or our personal practice-we create the environment given to us for the authenticity in our healing. Let me remind you, the greatest thing that can happen in the process of healing is to be witnessed, to be seen, to be acknowledged.
It is in those moments of feeling connected and validated that any true healing can begin, thus allowing us to move forward with more strength and wisdom in our hearts. So with every step forward on this healing journey, be intentional. Make the space you need; look to those who can be witnesses to your own growing up, but lastly, be gentle with yourself. Your healing is such an empowering and bold thing-worth every second given to it, space for its full bloom.
A “healing container” is simply a safe space to allow ourselves to confront our wounds, reflect on our experiences, and express our emotions without fear of judgment. Such containers can take many forms: a support group, therapy sessions, close friendships, or even personal rituals that make way for introspection and self-care. What they all have in common is intentionality.
These are all meant to produce growth, acceptance, and change. Intentionality is at the heart of any right kind of healing. When we make the choice to heal-doing so with intent-we engage in a process of confronting our pain, not pushing it away. This decision allows us to take responsibility for the journey ourselves and to recognize that while we may not have chosen our wounds, we can certainly choose how to respond to them. Now, part of being supportive about our own healing is to set aside time and space for focusing on our own well-being and engaging in practices that will nourish our spirit, connecting with those who will support our growth.
At the center of healing is the act of being witnessed, seen, and acknowledged. The ultimate empowerment comes through the validation of our pain by others. When one is genuinely seen in their vulnerability, comfort and also a sense of not being alone in the struggle are provided. This act of acknowledgment can be transformational in releasing shame and isolation around our wounds. It is not about our problems being fixed or the pain we experience being removed; rather, it is them witnessing our experiences and emotions. Such acknowledgment of life’s circumstances helps in affirming life’s realities and remembering that we are not invisible, even at the darkest hour of our lives.
It is here that we are seen, and a real sense of connection is created that catapults the idea that we are part of one human experience. How then do we create a container for such healing? First of all, it is important that one knows what they want according to their healing journey. Is it a quiet place for reflecting? Is it a friend or a therapist? It helps you create a container for your healing. Once you’ve identified this need, you know that you need to set consistent boundaries with others inside the container. You may need to carve out times for self-care or emotionally set boundaries with others.
Find a support network where other people can bear witness to your experience without blame (We Recommend The Health Gospel). This person/Group could be a friend, support group, or professional. The key is finding people that will hold space for whatever your healing looks like. Undoubtedly, healing is a winding and not a direct process dependent on adaptability and openness to paradigm shifts.
Allow your being to develop within the container of healing and let the lessons of each phase of healing be a guide. Keep in mind that healing is an eventful process; oftentimes, it dredges up lots of painful feelings. So, please go easy on yourself and show compassion for your person. It’s a very intimate, deliberate process that longs to be housed in a container. So in creating containers for healing-be it community, therapy, or our personal practice-we create the environment given to us for the authenticity in our healing. Let me remind you, the greatest thing that can happen in the process of healing is to be witnessed, to be seen, to be acknowledged.
It is in those moments of feeling connected and validated that any true healing can begin, thus allowing us to move forward with more strength and wisdom in our hearts. So with every step forward on this healing journey, be intentional. Make the space you need; look to those who can be witnesses to your own growing up, but lastly, be gentle with yourself. Your healing is such an empowering and bold thing-worth every second given to it, space for its full bloom.