3 Ways How to Overcome Fear Of Healing
When I decided to embark on the path of emotional recovery, I didn’t expect I would be faced with such a thing as fear of healing.
I started to do what everyone did. I read and learned and attended courses or seminars, did psychedelic medicine, joined a coaching group or hired a coach and a couple of therapists.
A few years later, I looked back and felt I made minimal progress. Although all these modalities and sources of support were extremely beneficial, I became the person who talked about healing rather than did the healing. Today, I know that there is a difference.
I realized that I feared healing because it was new, uncomfortable, and confronting.
Any changes you ever decide to make in your life, whether it’s setting boundaries, overcoming compulsive habits, saying no when you want to say no, or deciding to paint your living room pink, it will feel different. It will be unknown, new, weird, and often even triggering.
And there comes a time in all of our lives when we have to look in the mirror and truly ask ourselves: “Am I going to do this healing for real, or am I still playing around, being distracted with petty nonsense and things that keep me away from my ultimate goals?”
And the moment you find the courage to be true to yourself, without judgment or internal put-downs, while seeing things for what they are and what they have been, you open the door to your self-fabricated prison.
Will you still feel discomfort and fear of healing?
Of course. What will change is your priorities and willingness to transform your life.
And when fear shows up and you will be tempted to do this thing you always did, to pull away, to run away, to numb, to please, navigate the fear of healing by following these 3 steps.
1. Put things into perspective
One of the things I hear from my clients as we begin to work together is, “This is hard” or “This is not easy” when it comes to navigating their healing path.
Fair enough. I would never say that healing and growing are easy. However, I know that our perspective and choice of words matter.
How about you look at your situation right now and ask yourself, “Is THIS easy?”
Considering you are reading an article about the fear of healing, I will assume it is not. Therefore, the point is not to go after easy but to go after progress and transformation.
You and I know you have a burning desire inside of you that doesn’t let you sit still. You want more happiness, joy, and peace of mind. Am I correct?
But the fear of the unknown, the discomfort of unpredictability pulls you back. That’s what keeps the fear of healing alive.
When you find yourself saying things like “This is not easy”, change it by saying, “Although this process makes me uncomfortable, I know it’s good for me. I know it will lead me to where I want to go, and I am willing to bet on myself this time. My healing is non-negotiable.”
2. Address the fear of healing head-on
The nature of fear is such that it grows when we ignore it and run away from it and shrinks when we face it.
At least 30% of fear shrinks just by acknowledging it and facing it head-on.
Understand that most of your fears are illogical fabrications of your thoughts.
You can use fear as a messenger while understanding yourself better.
When you are afraid to look at some aspects of your life because they make you cringe, close your eyes, take a deep breath, and ask, “What is this trying to tell me?”
3. Focus on what you gain by facing your fear of healing
We often hear about visualization in terms of external goals. Visualize the thing that you want, and it will be given to you, right?
What is the basis of this? To create a feeling that you already have it.
The same applies to your healing. Think of questions like:
How will you feel once you heal your pains and free yourself from them?
How will you live when your challenges turn into lessons?
What does the healing version of you look like, feel like, and act like?
These questions are not here to deny what happened to you. Instead, they give you an idea of who you can become once you commit to your recovery.
It’s natural to experience fear of healing. However, it’s important to see it for what it is and focus on the benefit this soulful process brings into your life. In the words of Louise Hay – YOU CAN HEAL YOUR LIFE.
Have you experienced or currently face the fear of healing? I’d love to know your thoughts. Feel free to share them in the comment section below.
Comments (4)
Thank you indeed Sylvia for this e mail re/ fear of healing. I read this twice as you have aired so much wise profound wisdom which I agree with. I have experienced past fears (1) fear of going in a lift or going down escalator for many long years. The other main fear was driving in the outside lane of a motorway. As I became sick of the limitations both fears emanated in my life, one unplanned day I decided within to face these ugly fears and face them head on and I did that with a great deal of courage and felt such elation at the faciing and overcoming of them and relieved the freedom of so doing. So yes I have had such experience. Perhaps now I would like to really believe in myself, be of more confidence and as yet not too sure of what I feel best to do. I lost my partner only 18 months ago, an immense loss and such a great miss, though I journey on leading my life as best I can. I trust that I have aired my thoughts to you. Thank you for reading my inner thoughts. Sincerely, Laura
Thank you Laura for such a heartfelt message. I love your story on how you overcame your fears and I believe it will be a source of inspiration to many. I admire your strength and determination to live your life in spite of the setbacks you’ve been facing. I am grateful to have such a strong woman as a part of this community.
Hello Silvia thanks so much for all your brillant readings – I have had low low self esteem all my life which looking back the choices I made and ran from were not good for me or family, and reading up on ADHD and possibly a touch of autism ( which was not even known about in my childhood –
I am on this planet a long time) I possibly have had and still have and navigated by ducking and diving all my life .
I play the clown when I am not overcome with extreme anxiety.
I need now to forgive myself and be myself as I have continued to do the same things expecting different results – so grateful for all the brilliant people like yourself helping folk all over the world to come to terms with their beautiful selves thank you Marianne
You are most welcome, Marianne. In fact, guilt is one of the most common emotions my clients, and people in general deal with. it’s okay to give yourself grace and forgive yourself. Actually, it is the only way to find way back to yourself and start nurturing the love in your heart. With your awareness and understanding, I am sure you can do this. I am sending you lots of healing and loving energy.