Moving (and mourning) On Up!
Today we get real…and radical! We’re getting real radical for real healing. What does that mean? Well, it means we’re “affecting the fundamental nature of things in a thorough and far-reaching way.” And in doing so, we take on a great responsibility to hold ourselves accountable for that change.
As we learn to listen to bodies, and uncover the unconscious belief systems rooted in our childhoods, in addition to un-sticking the societal imprints on our psyche, it’s not unusual to feel moments of sadness or even self-pity. I want to say now that grief is a very real part of the healing process. Mourning is a piece of the healing path that is too-often left unmentioned or underrated. This potential mourning can pop up in some likely or unlikely places, and it’s critical that we stop to honor it. We’ve gotta feel ALL the feels over the course of this journey, and to find the courage to face the tougher emotional experiences too. Acknowledge it, feel it, and cry if you’re moved to. Crying is incredibly therapeutic, and a beautiful human indication of self-awareness.
Now I’d also like to point out that mourning an old habit or way of life is NOT the same thing as feeling sorry for ourselves. Growth happens with radical self-responsibility, and that means that no matter what your lot in life has been up to this point, you are still in the driver’s seat.
You decide how to respond to it, how you treat people in the process, and you decide how you move forward.
Read that last sentence again, please. Notice how there is only “you” being addressed? Not “your mom” or “your friend” or “your partner”? Just you.
Community is critical, and family is a huge catalyst for our growth, but at the end of the day, it’s you who makes your own path forward. You cannot do that with resentment in your heart, or blame on your tongue, so it’s important to recognize challenging situations and people for what they are. Feel the emotions as they arise, and honor them– honor yourself– but then give yourself the grace to forge forward with love. This is a major piece of your health puzzle. No one is to blame, and no one can make your choices for you. It’s all you, baby! Period.
So with all of that in mind…let’s do something about it together:
Today’s Activity:
Let’s reflect…
Think back on a health challenge you’ve experienced. Who was involved? Did you feel any self-blame or resentment for anyone outside of yourself?
Do you still feel self-blame, or resentment towards others when you think about that experience today?
Take a moment to repeat after me:
I acknowledge this past experience, and I honor the feelings that arise. I respect their place in my path moving forward. I recognize the areas of growth for all parties involved, and I also decide to move myself forward with loving awareness. I cannot change the past, but I can change my present by changing my thoughts, and my attitude. I choose to move forward with love, and to honor the path that brought me here today.”
