Embracing the Four Seasons As A Guide For Personal Reflection
As we enter the new year, let’s embrace the [...]
When the Holiday Season Is Difficult: Secrets and Seasons of the Journey
Holiday Seasons can be difficult. When you hear, “Secrets [...]
Ways to Practice Gratitude
There are many ways to practice gratitude. For instance, [...]
Releasing – Part of Healing Our Woundedness
“We are all wounded in some way. What we [...]
Finding Peace During Panic
At the surface how people are coping with the first major global pandemic in modern history might not align with the mission of Survivors to Thrivers. Covid-19 is only the current example of how a pressing uncertainty might encourage self-isolation to protect ourselves and others, but ends up magnifying the underlying stresses of our daily existence. The anxiety and fear of whether something will happen is known as catastrophizing, and compounds the normal triggers and limited belief we bravely tackle every day. This is particularly true for those of us who have suffered traumatic events in our lives like sexual abuse.
Crocuses and Cairns
The waning days of winters can be especially trying. There is an urgency to finish tidying up your inner space, shedding layers and a calling to feel the rays of warm sunshine on faces. There is a sense that enough time has been spent inventorying the situation and thinking about what steps we must take to improve our lives. Essentially, we have gotten cabin fever of the soul and yearn for the new shoots of hope and promise to break through the cold, dark ground. We can feel lost when these shoots are slow to break through and frustrated with the additional work of tending to these vulnerable seedlings.
When we suffer trauma in our lives, like sexual assault, we are called to both name and claim the people and forces that keep us grounded and inspire us to break through any barriers blocking us from wholeness. During this season where I feel lost and bound up by the physical pain and fatigue, I draw strength from the Divine and the rhythms of nature. I think of the first flowers of spring, like crocuses that must not just burst forth from the hard protection of the seed coat, but then break through the hard, frozen ground. This new shoot is then vulnerable to the elements and reliant on the sun to help it blossom and flourish.
Similar to the crocus, we must break forth from the seed coat of our pain and hurt. Next, we must be brave and break through the unforgiving ground of limiting beliefs and unhelpful interpersonal dynamics. We must tap into forces that uplift us and bring us encouragement, joy, and peace. Whether that is a Divine force, a close family member, treasured friend, place of refuge, or even hobby, cultivate this support system with renewed vigor. Finally, when you feel a bit more settled in yourself, use this strength and light to help blaze a trail for people that might also be feeling lost and alone.
