I learned a long time ago that healing was not something to be achieved, rather it’s a journey to travel. It’s not a one time thing either, it’s a journey that you repeat many times throughout your life. Each time you take the path, it will look different, feel different and the tools you need to use for the journey will inevitably change.
Each road you take allows you to unfold in layers, allowing you to heal from past wounds, emotional burdens, or energetic imbalances that have hidden or harmed parts of you during your life. Each road gives you experiences, tools and skills that will be useful during other journeys as we work to reveal our true inner selves. Some will be useful in every journey, and some will be useful once only and then need to be discarded.
This month, I’m exploring the tool of Mindfulness here at Soul Studio. Through the work I have done, both through my own healing journey as well as with the journeys I have been privileged to support, mindfulness has proved its worth. I’ve found it serves as a guiding light, helping us to stay present with each step we take. It enables us to learn from the journey, to take it at a pace that is useful rather than rushed, and to remember it for future journeys.
The Role of Mindfulness in Healing
Mindfulness invites us to meet ourselves exactly where we are, without judgment or resistance. This, I have learned, is vital if we are to take a healing journey. We simply cannot progress any further until we can accept where we’re currently at and that we need to do something to change it, even though more often than not we’re not aware of what it is we need to do or of the causes behind it.
When we embrace mindfulness as part of our healing process, we open ourselves to developing our self-awareness which in turn gives us a deeper insight into what it is we’re working on healing. It allows us to find stability in this very moment right now which stops us living in past pain or worrying about what the future may bring and allows us to focus in what is happening for us right now. It also helps us to grow deeper levels of self-compassion which gifts us a safe space to heal without criticising ourselves for not doing better or blaming ourselves for things that aren’t our fault.
Mindfulness Practices to Support Healing
One of the great things about mindfulness is that it doesn’t require grand gestures. Instead, it thrives in small, intentional practices woven into daily life. You can take your pick as to what suits you too, there’s no end to the possible ways you can use it and it can be fun to explore what will work for you.
Here’s a few examples for you:
- Breath Awareness: Pause and take a few conscious breaths, allowing each inhale and exhale to guide you back to the present moment. Please be careful with this is you have any lung conditions, it may be better to look at other options.
- Body Scanning: Gently check in with your body, noticing areas of tension, discomfort, or openness. This practice fosters a deeper connection to your physical and energetic self. This one isn’t for anyone who doesn’t feel safe in their own body.
- Journaling with Presence: Instead of analyzing or overthinking, allow thoughts and emotions to flow onto the page without judgment, creating space for inner clarity. Don’t be restricted to just writing, journaling can be written, video, art based etc.
- Mindful Movement: Whether through yoga, walking, or stretching, move with intention, feeling each sensation as you reconnect with your body. Again, this one isn’t for anyone who doesn’t feel safe in their body and it is worth seeking out someone who can give you professional advice if you haven’t exercised for a while or have a chronic condition.
- Mindful daily living: Practice focusing on all aspects of a thing. For example, washing the dishes you can observe the feel of the plates in your hands, watch the bubbles as they float in the water, admire the colours in the bubbles etc. This can apply to any task at all.
Embracing the Journey with Mindful Intention
Healing is a sacred and personal process, a difficult journey for anyone to undertake but ultimately worthwhile. Mindfulness offers us an amazing set of tools to support us while we’re walking the path so we can not only deepen our own inner healing but also create a ripple effect, bringing peace and balance to every outer aspect of our lives.
With deep roots and an open heart,
Sarah x
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