What Does Healing Really Look Like?
In an ideal world, the process of healing would only encompass feelings of euphoria and bliss as everything magically falls into place with the snap of your fingers. However, those of us who have gone through healing phases in our lives know that it never happens that way. There are many layers to healing that may involve unfamiliar emotions, discomfort, and a lot of turning inward.
I like to view these phases of healing and growth as my “cocoon states.” I am very familiar with these transitions in my life at this point, so I don’t get worried when I suddenly crave more alone time, thirst for a deeper sense of self-agency and embodiment, and hunger to step off from the “Ferris wheel of life” in order to observe it. I trust that these “cocoon states” serve a greater purpose and that by the end of them, I will emerge as a stronger, more integrated version of myself.
Signs you are in the process of healing and growing:
You value your alone time.
This alone time doesn’t feel lonely at all but rather rejuvenating. This alone time feels valuable as you reflect and learn about yourself with curiosity. It’s an intimate time to reacquaint yourself with who you are & the self you are evolving into. This is the space where you begin to solidify your secure attachment with yourself.
You find it easier to respond vs react.
As your self-trust and self-awareness heighten, you find more empowerment in the ability to take responsibility for yourself. Thus, you have the space to process and mindfully respond to circumstances from a stance of curiosity and safety rather than fear and survival. Deep healing also comes with a deeper understanding of yourself & how to self-soothe. When you build a secure attachment with yourself, you are less shaken up by external circumstances that are out of your control.
Connecting to your voice, intuition, and needs becomes second nature.
That gut feeling is not something that is easily ignored anymore. It rises to the surface, beckoning you to accept it and familiarize yourself with it. Your own narrative becomes clearer and more exciting as you slowly pull away from comparing and contrasting it to the dominant narrative of society and other people’s paths in life.
You prioritize healthy habits and routines that are right for you.
Morning and nightly rituals become non-negotiable. Taking time to honor your energetic limits and boundaries takes precedence over others. I personally always return to my yoga practice during these times of healing. These habits and rituals become less of a comparison to what “others” deem to be healthy (especially in the age of social media) and more of an honoring of what you need to feel a sense of wellness.
You seek quality over quantity in relationships.
FOMO has become an unfamiliar experience for me within the past decade, yet I hear about it all the time! When we start to heal, we stop chasing! We begin to build a trust that those we have deep bonds with are always with us and can grow alongside us. The life we experience moment to moment is precious and more than enough, regardless of how others may perceive it.
Self-compassion becomes your second language.
When you begin to heal and grow, you identify less with your thoughts and emotions. You are able to observe them as experiences rather than the whole truth of your identity. Your strengths, your pain points, your accomplishments, your mistakes—they all begin to disentangle into individual puzzle pieces that, as a collective, make up the masterpiece that is you.
Healing is a lifelong process—and one that is not linear! Finding the right therapist to be with you on your healing journey (that may blossom into a growth journey) can be an invaluable decision you make for yourself. Please get in touch with our Client Care Coordinator at Root to Rise to book an appointment with one of our therapists today!
With gratitude,
