For the past 12+ years I’ve dealt with a lot of physical pain and symptoms that are all seemingly connected, yet somehow undiagnosable.
I can’t count:
- the number of mornings I’ve woken up in frustration and anger
- the number of doctors I’ve seen and tests I’ve done
- the amount of tears I’ve cried
- the sleepless nights I’ve had
- and the modalities, techniques, and procedures I’ve tried.
When COVID-19 hit in March 2020, I immediately knew that I wanted to turn the pandemic curse into a blessing, so I made the choice to use this time to heal my body and figure out this mystery once and for all.
Similar to you, I never would’ve guessed that the pandemic would continue for two years and counting, and therefore so would my healing process.
There are several things I’ve learned over the past 12 years, and even more deeply these past two, about healing, growth, and change.
1. Healing is not linear and, in truth, is actually very messy
I spent a lot of years hoping for a magical diagnosis or treatment where suddenly everything would just click into place and it would all be better and make sense. Instead, it often looks like taking two steps forward and one step back. Like patiently putting a puzzle together one treasured piece at a time.
2. It often gets worse right before it gets better
The moment when the discomfort becomes almost unbearable and the frustration levels come to a boiling point is actually the gateway to the next step in the process of healing and moving in the direction you want to go.
3. A desire to change often precedes the discomfort
As humans, we’re very good at adapting, and we often become comfortable and complacent in situations that aren’t actually the way we want them to be, and that’s completely ok when it’s still working for us!
Whether conscious or subconscious, when something is no longer working for us we often have a desire to change that creates those deeply uncomfortable moments, and it’s that discomfort that spurs us into action.
4. There is always hope
Those sleepless nights were always the time spent searching for answers. And I always came up with something new to try that would get me out of bed in the morning and keep me going. Something that would give me hope of a better tomorrow.
5. Our struggles are our superpowers
Over the years, all the steps of my journey—from my research and learning to my therapies and the people I’ve met—have given me the gifts of the life I have now. It has made me a better teacher and leader; helped me discover coaching, holistic wellness, and my life purpose; and has even led me to love.
6. We get to choose how we move through the discomfort
While we can’t always control the things that happen or how the Universe is going to bring about the lessons that we came to this life to learn, we have the choice to resist and rage against change or to embrace and flow with it.
To be a passive victim of changes that happen or an active partner in creating the changes we want to see. Of fearing the future and unknown or being excited about the possibilities and the unfolding what’s to come.
Wherever you are on your journey, whether in comfort or somewhere on the spectrum of discomfort, remember that all things change and this too shall pass. And know that I am holding space for you and sending you love and light.
