I observe the ones who stop and squeeze my hand and offer words of comfort.
I receive the calls and texts ongoing with kind words and prayers…
And I feel comforted.
And then I observe the ones that look at me, smile, and keep right on walking without a word. I observe others who do not call or text unless it is for their own personal gain.
And I feel sorry for them…as they lack empathy.
When we “feel empathy,” we are connected. When we cannot offer even one word of comfort in a crisis…there is a disconnect between our hearts and our presence.
Stay connected. Be present. Comfort one who is experiencing pain. Offer your time and a brief reprieve.
Herein lies empathy that may change the trajectory of one’s day.
As a spiritual student and teacher, I have learned that once I release any expectations, and I trust in my spiritual connection, I experience the experiences I have dreamed about.
These spiritual experiences have been awe inspiring and captivating.
I choose to allow Spirit to lead me to, and through the magnificence of these spiritually aligned experiences.
Through inner introspection and an open heart…I hear “the calling.”
Addiction is a brain disorder that can slowly kill one who lives with this fatal disease. Addiction is a mental health disorder.
Recovery is the solution that can restore your mind, rebuild your life, and offer a path to lasting healing and hope when you commit yourself to wellness through specific self care strategies.
Self care is the actions that we take to achieve wellness, and wellness is where we stand in our power.
I’m about to celebrate 13 years of living in wellness in recovery from substanceuse disorder. It’s a lot of hard work and certainly the journey has many winding roads and ups and downs. I was one of the lucky ones to have found recovery through a holistic approach and became a holistic coach and practitioner to serve others. Most recently, I decided to listen to my voice within to do even deeper inner work that has been so necessary for quite some time in order to enhance my life/recovery.
Feelings of severe anxiety, guilt, anger, and deep sadness have plagued me for some time so I thought I would attend SMART RECOVERY meetings (something I rejected in the past) and work the steps of this recovery community.
It is never too late to add tools to your recovery plan and in fact, I am finding that this is what I have needed for so long. I no longer feel so alone, and I feel like I am doing constructive work to become an even better version of myself for myself and for my family and friends.
And no doubt, I will be able to share this experience along with all of my holistic practices with my clients and even our community.
I felt the universe guiding me towards this for quite some time.
Listen to your voice within. Inherently, we know what we need for healing.
The little girl in this picture experienced severe trauma & neglect at a very young age into middle age, ongoing. It is a miracle that I have grown into a new woman in adulthood at all, alive and well, and still open to learning, growing and evolving.
I have humbled myself in order to understand new perspectives because I want to be the example for my children and grandchildren that no matter what you experience in your life, it is always a choice to turn it around. To LIVE. To be well and happy. To love and to be loved.
We can recover. We do recover. It is a lifelong commitment.
Healing is a creative process that allows us to choose again when our wellness tools are not promoting our personal health and wellness goals.
We must be aware of our body’s signals and our mind’s whispers, recognizing when it’s time to modify our strategy, shift our approach, open our mind to other perspectives, trust our intuition, and explore new methods that align with our true needs for balance and well-being.
Recovery from Substance Use Disorder is a lifelong process that requires us to be creative, to be humble, and to be willing to revisit strategies that we may have discarded in the past.
As our situation changes, we may find that the strategies on the shelf will bring a renewed sense of creativity…and healing.
When I begin to feel my emotions causing a physical sensation in my body, rather than resist what I am feeling, I BREATHE INTO IT.
I inhale one slow deep breath through my nose to the count of 4, hold for the count of 6, exhale slowly and purposefully to the count of 8. I continue this breathing pattern until I feel the uncomfortable physical sensation loosen its grip and until my heart rate begins to slow down.
As I breathe, I remind myself that I am safe, or I can find a safe space or a “safe person” to support me as I experience symptoms of heightened anxiety, (anger, fear, etc…whatever you are feeling that is causing you to feel “unwell”).
Our breath is our most accessible tool to intervene with our physiology in real time. It is my organic strategy for resetting my nervous system.
“Breathing into it sends oxygen to your body, helping to calm your nervous system, clear your mind, and nourish your cells. It’s a reminder to slow down, center yourself, and embrace the present moment with each inhale and exhale.” Remember that you always have a choice as to how you respond to external stimuli. Choose a constructive response that promotes wellness, inner peace and personal growth. Use this experience to practice resilience.
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