How many ways are there to heal? I guess it depends on who you ask. If you asked me, I would say,
“7, no, 5, no, probably 4, actually a million… but really, they are all one way.”
So there are a million different healing modalities, I hear about a new one at least every day. Each claim to be the answer. Some seem cockamamie, some intrigue me. But don’t people realize that they are variations of the same theme? There are (to me) obvious similarities in ones that work. They each include the concepts below. Try any of them you feel called to, but see if you can recognize these within.
7 Ways to Heal
There are the 7 chakras (energy vortexes) in the body, from the Hindu tradition, that can be cleared, which many people have asked me to write about and I will soon. They connect with where we hold beliefs about love, loss, fear, etc.
5 Ways to Heal
Here are 5 ways to heal, which I co-authored with a client last week. Here they are,
1. Feeling heard
Acknowledgment and validation is how we heal. See this Oprah video on validation. Remember, you are allowed to feel!
2. Be present
Living in the future gives us worry, living in the past gives us resentment. It is only in the present that we can connect with the divine part of ourselves. Here we can heal. Just be.
3. Belonging
Humans are social creatures, belonging helps create a worthy identity. Feeling left out, isolated, or shunned injures our souls. (Even if we are doing it to ourselves.) That’s why bullying is so painful.
4. Helping others
Contributing to others lives also give us a sense of worth and belonging. If we help someone else, we feel a rush of warmth and happiness. We matter. It also helps us step outside of our selves, and view things from a new perspective.
5. Connecting
Feeling separate is the root of all of our problems. Connecting to others usually relieves intense emotions, seclusion creates more fear and guilt. Being with others helps us get out of our own head.
(All of these give us a sense of worth. All of these include love.)
4 Ways to Heal
Here are 4 ways to heal, which is an idea I am developing, and encompasses everything else:
1. Forgiveness
Opposite of blame, shame and guilt. Letting go of anger and resentment. Self forgiveness heals. This also encompasses non judgment.
2. Trust
Letting go of fear in all forms. (Anxiety, worry, desperation, worry, confusion, etc.) Being present. Knowing how you have control over your responses and that’s the most important control.
3. Connection
Again, the opposite of separation, but knowing our oneness with everything. The inclusiveness of everything. Where everything belongs.
4. Love
Love is everything. It is the present moment.
I do recognize that all four of these things are actually the same. They are all love.
1 Way to Heal
Love.
‘Nuff said.
Thanks Kim for this gem:And ”Again, to love. To be loved, to never forget your own insignificance,and also to never get used to the unspeakable violence and the vulgar disparity of life around you. Seek joy in the saddest places. To pursue beauty to its lair. Also, to never simplify what is complicated or complicate what is simple. To respect strength, never power. Above all, to watch. To try and understand. To never look away. And never, never to forget.”—Arundhati Roy, The God of Small Things
How have you felt healing in your life? What am I missing?
“Humor is healing” laughing and sharing a smile 🙂
Nikky44 recently posted..Suicide? Why?
Yes, it is! I love humor! and use it every day!
Yup. There is only way, no matter the path, no matter the steps — the only way to heal is through and in and with, Love.
Perfect!
Thanks Jodi.
Louise Gallagher recently posted..Let us be the change — it makes a difference
You know it better than most, Louise!
Twelve years ago I had to move from my community of 32 years. I was heartbroken but I was horribly ill from toxic mold and had a following reaction to the chemicals so prevalent in our world. My community was becoming more crowded and I needed to leave. So the first time I moved, I moved because of health issues. Then when I got well enough to move on I had to do so for financial reasons and to seek work. In both new states I knew no one. I was used to a large social network. I had always been a daily journal writer but now I relied on my pen for a deeper connection with myself and God. It brought me the healing I had been seeking.
Jan, writing is a beautiful way to heal. A client and I are writing a book on it. Maybe I can ask you some questions?
I agree that love is the way to heal. All the other ways are tied in with that.
Tina Barbour recently posted..Sitting with Chase
You did it with Chase, A perfect example!
See, and people thought The Beatles were just a bunch of lads with silly haircuts, but they totally KNEW what they were saying when they wrote “All You Need is Love!” Great quote from Arundhati Roy. That book is one of my all-time favorites.
Laura Zera recently posted..Travel Photo: A Woman in Udaipur
That quote fed my soul. I saw it on Kim Robinson’s Facebook that morning and knew I had to include it.
Looking forward to reading about the 7 Hindu tradition chakras, Jodi! 🙂
I wonder how those 7 themselves are tied to love.
In every aspect, Andrew!
What a lovely, inspiring blog. Amazing job, I will stick around for sure! Can’t wait for the chakras article.
Namaste,
Olympia
http://journeytoatmanashtangayoga.blogspot.gr/
Olympia B recently posted..Progress Requires Courage, Faith And Sacrifice.
Thanks Olympia, I am working on it!
Masterful post, Jodi. Love how you’ve made a poem of the successive condensations.
Thank you!
Hi Jodi,
What I see in your post is the realisation that ultimately all healing paths lead to one. As we open up our doors to love, all the other healing aspects converge into this.
Loved the post and hope to visit again.
Shakti
Thank you, Shakti! So glad you like is and can relate! So happy to have your visit and I do hope you come back! BTW, I like your name:)
Jodi, I agree with Nikky about humor. There’s nothing like humor. After Sept 11th, it was humor that helped get us back on track. Not at first, no. I remember all the nighttime hosts, finding it hard to joke, but within a few weeks or so, laughter came back and it was okay, and soon we were starting to heal. Coming together also helped, and we found ourselves helping others during this time. For all that was bad about Sept 11th, there came something good out of it.
Another way to heal, I find, is through music. When I was going through my divorce music helped me recover.
Monica recently posted..Flailing
Thanks, Monica, I love humor and music too. Sounds can be powerful, it is a way to clear energy with no risks. i was actually thinking of a post about how musicians save so many suicides, because people listen and decide to live.
Love. It sounds trite – but it’s probably the only thing that really works.
Yep!
Hi Jodi, you’re right; you can have as many ways to heal. It depends on the person’s nature, temperament, and the degree of afflictions. But as an evergreen solution, I think the following says it all – “Love heals all.”
Yes, the chakra therapy is quite authentic and effective. And the other ways of healing you mentioned are really very helpful. My healing antidote would be a mixture of your healing options – acceptance, forgiveness, love, optimism/trust, being present, and connection.
I too agree with Nikki, humor does make a difference, and I personally feel prayer is a great healing tool that opens up the great power hidden in our subconscious mind and the soul to channelize the energy within us.
Thank you for this great thought provoking post. 🙂
I agree about humor, but that is joy and joy is love, too! <3 Thank you so much!
Hi Jodi Lobozzo,
Nice article i am impressed with the way you presented the article.
Yes its really not any fixed way to heal. If one way is good to one person then it may not be as useful to other.7 chakras you are right i also heard about it and know little bit, its really effective and from ancient time this solution is there.
But As you said and very nicely at the last “Love” .It can heal anybody.
One thing i want to add if someone want to heal from something divert your mind to things you love.
Thank You
Shorya Bist
From Youthofest
Shorya,
It is an important practice to train your mind to focus on what you want it to focus on. I love that idea! Thank you!
Jodi