We’ve all seen those wonder drugs advertisements that claim to cure all kinds of ailments. From watching Doctor Mike (a doctor on YouTube), a regular topic he touches on when debunking misinformation is those ‘miracle cures’. How someone is selling you this wonder drug that can cure something modern science is actively trying to manage. I’ll be honest that’s what I thought healing would be. I wanted it to be a miracle cure. When I was first confronted with the reality of my mental state I made deductions in simple black and white terms. It went something like, “I have this problem. I’ll fix it like this and I’ll go back to normal”.
I didn’t understand that self- awareness isn’t a one-time dive if you’re truly committed to meeting yourself. It’s blowing down your house of cards, then rebuilding a new reality with your bare hands. Even then sometimes you have to tear down your foundations and start again. It’s just one step to freedom. Because by becoming more aware of yourself, your behaviors, emotions and patterns you can identify the areas that need healing and growth. Then you’ve got to get your hands dirty and get some work done.
A lot of my experience of life was colored by the education system. This is a well-defined game; you show up for classes, stay on the administrations good side, keep good company, work hard, trust in God and you’ll reap what you sow. If your grades weren’t in favor of your future all you hard to do was go back to the drawing board, chalk up a game plan and stick to it. Simple, right? There were two fundamental ways your results could go; up or down. You’ve failed or you’ve succeeded. Somewhere along the way the lines blur and you’re either a success or a failure. It’s no longer an objective it’s now a matter of self-identity.
In reality life is multifactorial, one thing isn’t always the result of another. It’s an infinite realm of maybes. Maybe you win maybe you don’t, you just learn. That’s life. Took me a lot of work to internalize that the lessons aren’t the end of life. Sometimes they’re cherished moments of growth. Sometimes they just hurt. Acceptance will allow you to let go of self judgement and criticism. It’s about embracing all of you, especially the parts that you feel aren’t deserving. In this kind of environment, you could discover yourself anew, like the acceptance of all parts of who you are re-embellish you. Being kind to myself has got me farther and more resilient than being overly critical. It’s easier to extend that same grace to others when it’s poured in plenty into your own experiences.
We’re God’s creation and as an artist I realize how much intention goes into your creation. I always want my final product to be the best. In the creation story, God looked at His creation and said it was Good. So good He blessed and rested. You have been loved since your creation, if that’s not beautiful I don’t know what is. Our emotions are part of what God created and thought was good. Emotional health is an important step of whatever direction your life is going. I think to be human is to be able to carry the experiences of the universe within you. The trick is to surf this solar storm and find a refuge within.
I finally understand why many people equate healing to nurturing a garden. There’s so much intention to a well-tended garden. From the clearing, planting, watering, weeding and adding fertilizer when needed, there’s nothing passive about it. So, break down your journey into small digestible steps you can incorporate into your daily routine; prayer, daily self-affirmations, journaling towards change, positive self-talk, rest, reaching out to others and trusting yourself. There’s a thousand ways to show yourself love, it begins with being continually honest with where you are and showing yourself kindness.
In the Bible’s definition of love, the first line is love is patient, love is kind. Remember, Beautiful things take time.
Spiritual Spotlight
A single decision could change the course of a generation. That’s the kind of power tied to your healing. When you think of the story of Joshua and Caleb (Numbers 32:11-12) they were the only duo of their generation to step into the fullness of God’s abundance. The Israelites took a 40-year trip to complete a seven-day journey. Their mindset was a complex mix of faith and doubt, obedience and rebellion, like they didn’t know who they were and were too busy reacting to every situation to internalize their freedom. When Joshua and Caleb gave a report of the promised land (Numbers 13-14), they chose to define it through the lens of God’s victory instead of their emotions. That mindset shift meant their minds were already in the promised land. The inheritance was theirs. It may be daunting to trust God when our circumstances encourage otherwise but if we never make peace with the past how can we own the present? God has a good plan for you but you can’t fully possess what you don’t believe is yours. It all begins in your mind.
WORD PLAY
Metanoia- the journey of changing one’s mind, heart, self or way of life, spiritual conversion
Musings
Hello thanks for reading another article of Universe Unscripted! If it’s your first time here I hope you enjoyed this piece. For those soon becoming regulars thank you for supporting my work. If you haven’t already be sure to hit that subscribe button and share this article. I’d love to hear your thoughts on this piece. As we wrap up I’m reminded of the limitless possibilities we face so let’s take life Beyond the script into the infinite. Until next time, I bid you adieu.