Emotional Healing: What It Looks Like And How It Happens

Emotional healing is diverse and complex, and we all experience it quite differently.

Our hurts, pains, sorrows, and griefs are not the same, and they deserve our curiosity and compassion.

In this article, I want to offer you a perspective on what a healing journey entails. When we play in the field of truth and have some understanding of the dynamic of this process, we are more likely to withstand the occasional discomfort of it instead of running away.

I want to eliminate the myth that a good life is one full of comfort, convenience, and pleasure. This misconception makes us believe that feeling comfortable and pleasurable is the goal.

Therefore, let me ask you this:

When do you feel the most alive, grateful, confident, and happy (fill in the blank)?

While you are sitting on your couch, indulging in your favorite snack and watching Netflix?

Or when you overcome your fears, release stuck emotions, or break a negative belief?

Exactly.

Life happens when you live to your full potential and work on breaking mental barriers that keep you stuck, not when they release a new series of The Walking Dead.

Now that we put things into perspective, we can dive into what you can expect from this lively and empowering journey called emotional healing.

1. It won’t be comfortable. It will be better than that

Before you take any action, can we agree on something? You and I aren’t here for the easy and comfortable. We are here for transformation.

And the transformation of any kind is dynamic. Just by adjusting your perception of this aspect of emotional healing, your expectations and experience of the entire process will change.

When you understand that those triggering emotions that show up are asking to be acknowledged, felt, and released, instead of pushing them away, you will stay with them and work through it.

And voila, you are one step closer to your beautiful, healed, and loving self.

So, although we don’t look for comfort in this phase of your life, we look for something much better and more rewarding – your growth.

2. You will be challenged

There will be times when something or someone triggers you, and you will face a decision: turn away and run, numb, deny, or look directly at it and deal with it.

Emotional healing feels challenging because you are unbecoming something you are not. Any change, no matter how small, alarms your mind with the signal of danger.

As I mentioned probably a million times, your mind loves familiarity. So when you serve it with something new, it will rebuttal.

Once you find yourself in this situation, withstand the discomfort of the unknown or past emotions that resurface. Remind yourself how your mind works and choose differently. Choose healing.

3. You will be so proud

The moment you respond differently than you always had, you will be thrilled by your progress.

Most importantly, it will show you your power and what you can do when you choose to heal yourself and beat the odds of your past.

Now that we identified the basics of what emotional healing looks like, let’s look at how it happens.

Step #1 – You will be confused and excited at the same time

Because of the initial momentum that comes with any new goal, you’ll experience a sense of excitement. It will be one of those power feelings when you get fed up with something in your life and decide to change it.

As you start navigating this journey, you may find yourself confused since you will be discovering new parts of yourself, gaining new awareness, and facing off some old thoughts, patterns, or habits.

Remain calm and conscious. It is all part of the process. Remind yourself why you decided to get on this journey and trust that you are going in the right direction.

Step #2 – You experience an emotional relapse

Emotional healing is never a linear process but rather complex and, at times, messy. You may relapse into old habits, act in old ways, or do that thing you said you would never do again.

When this happens, the most important thing is to stay away from judgment (since this will be the place you naturally want to go to). Instead of guilt, approach yourself with understanding and compassion and become curious about what might have caused this.

As long as you are aware of when these things happen and understand that changing them is always and only in your hands, there is nothing to worry about. Give yourself some grace, go to sleep, and start again tomorrow.

Step #3 – You will become stronger with every victory

There comes a moment when you experience a breakthrough. Maybe you will enforce a boundary, say no when you want to say no, make a challenging but loving decision for yourself, release anger, and feel self-compassion.

That’s when your perception of your life, your capabilities, and what is possible for you shifts. It won’t be about self-help books and hearing only stories anymore. It will live in your own experience and empower you.

You recognize that every single thing that has ever happened to you led to this moment, so you can see how powerful, capable, and strong you are to create the life you always wanted.

What stage of your healing are you in? What are some of the victories or challenges you are currently living through? I’d love to know. Feel free to share it in the comment section below.