Trauma causes deep seated emotional scars that take a long time to heal. This emotional healing journey leaves behind pain, numbness, self doubt, and a vacuum of not knowing and understanding. Whether it is the result of war, loss, shame or mourning, the human heart yearns for one thing after destruction: meaning and love. When the world comes crashing down around us, rebuilding our self-esteem reveals our essence and develops our resilience.
I was born highly sensitive, and would feel the pain of a shift in energy very quickly. So, I would cry or react very easily to the sways of the world. I was often told to not be so sensitive and emotional and be strong. That became the mantra of my life. To feel accepted, I tried to hide my emotions so that I would not appear imperfect. The trauma of not feeling understood, and suppressing my emotions, filled me with anxiety and anger. It was only when I faced a life threatening event, that I decided to honour my feelings. Focusing on my listening to my feelings made me turn inwards. This opened the doorway to reconnecting with deeper wisdom of the inner voice. I used my sensitivity to observe and contemplate, and this helped me anchor within as well as embrace my sensitivity as my biggest asset. This also facilitated in unleashing my potential and realizing my essence as love. Living in alignment has helped me discover my purpose and know that happiness is our state of being.
In a recent conversation with Katie Eastman, who is an expert on healing from grief and loss, highlighted how fear and anger quietly shape our decisions, reminding us that being aware of these emotions helps us respond consciously rather than react automatically. This resonated deeply with me, as living with awareness has been the foundation of my healing the inner child and growing into my own person.
In the wake of war or catastrophe, our sense of security gets reduced to rubble, relationships change, and the beat of life becomes stunted. Still, amidst the bleakest of times, a voice deep within urges us to persevere. That inner resilience gives us the ability to remain with the pain, accept the hurt, and grow into a compassionate person.
Trauma rewires the way we see life. The little things that were once taken for granted start to hold new meaning: a sunrise, a shared laugh, the ring of laughter. Recovery starts when we are able to witness life again, not through the lens of loss, but love. That love is at the center of all self-discovery processes.
Healing is like a metamorphosis of the caterpillar to a butterfly. It happens in its own time, often slower than the mind desires, but exactly in harmony with nature's rhythm. Living with awareness of our thoughts and emotions is one of the strongest ways to start this healing. By grounding ourselves in the present, we permit the heart to love once more.
In times of quiet, I started to realize that by suppressing and avoiding the pain, I had denied myself the opportunity to heal and grow. Accepting pain as a reality of life has paved the way for it to act as a teacher. Releasing the pain and accepting the scars lovingly, has made space for awareness and understanding that it is our mind that clings to pain. The soul is always free and perfect. The realization that I am not the body, I am not my thoughts and emotions, has made me stronger, empathic, and humane.
Seeking professional help, connecting with a support system, and practising self-care are also vital aspects of healing. Maintaining disciplined habits of eating and exercise helps in managing emotions and the mind. Most importantly, being kind to yourself and celebrating small wins along the way reinforces self-belief and restores balance
From Survival to Meaning
Healing from trauma has turned survival into purposeful living by allowing the experience to make me wiser about life. Like many individuals, I had buried the pain and suffered in silence. I had erected a wall of pretence and assumed a persona of aggression in the hope to avoid pain. Unfortunately, this approach only made me indifferent and cynical. As I have aligned internally with spiritual wisdom, it has helped me recover from trauma and discover my purpose to serve humanity.
In recovery, we transition from Why me? to What next?. That transition from resistance to acceptance is a journey of self-transformation. Healing each scar reveals an insight and releases the hidden courage, compassion, and connection with mankind.
No one recovers alone. Connection with a community that offers the safe space to be vulnerable reclaims the sense of belonging. When we tell our stories with openness, we draw the energy to heal and bring others into our recovery. Communities recover through the power of compassion and shared humanness.
Firstly, any recovery requires a willingness and acceptance of the pain and a choice to look ahead to feel whole. Secondly, hope in a better future serves as a beacon of light, guiding us through times of darkness. The renewed faith in life's goodness awakens and nurtures the inner leader.
Healing from trauma is a paradox: the deep pain becomes a catalyst for spiritual healing, awakening love and resilience that transform weakness into strength. Searching for meaning allows the light to permeate and illuminate the most authentic aspects of our identity. Healing one step at a time is an act of courage, a declaration that we are greater than what was done to us.
Rising like a phoenix from the ashes, our growth becomes a catalyst of hope for others who are still navigating their way through sorrow. Healing from trauma is an act of faith in ourselves, in humankind, and in life's possibilities.
When you find yourself in the midst of the painful barbs and arrows, stop. Breathe. Listen. The voice of love inside has been the guiding light that has helped to unleash my potential as a leader committed to serving people to find the happiness within.
For more reflections, read my blog: The Simple Truth: Love the Essence of Life
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