The Other Side of Healing

As I was doing extensive reading and using seminars, videos, etc to assist in my healing, I found common denominators with all the authors and lecturers I was learning so much from. They had great wisdom about life and happiness, and they were trying to teach and share it with others, but I wondered how they had gotten that wisdom. I began to see a common ground in their life and experiences. Most of them had experienced significant traumas in their lives. Some were based in illness, depression, or family, friend, or work-related issues. Many were from difficult childhood events, such as grief, learning difficulties, lack of confidence, bullying, bad relationships, and so many others. Whatever their traumatic experience was, they’d sought survival and growth from the experience and hadn’t let the trauma define them. They decided to get in touch with their soul or inner person and feelings to find their way out. In many cases this turned out to be a new relationship with a higher power, feeling some divine intervention. Sometimes it just comes unexpectedly, like a lightbulb lighting up in your head, that shows you the way forward. All one has to do is admit he or she has a problem and wants to get himself or herself out of it. Amazing things happen when you open yourself up to new ideas and remedies. They’re all there within us, but sometimes we are closed to them from habit or the negative thoughts we have let in and live with. I identified with them because of my own experiences, and they gave me hope. If they survived, then I could too. I just needed to learn the tools, and I became determined to do so. I started with the positive thinking described in the mind chapter; then I saw how love, kindness, faith, and hope helped me get in touch with myself. I started to realize that so many things in life, things I had thought were so important, really weren’t that important after all; and worrying or stressing didn’t make any of those things better. Material things became less important, and I focused more on relationships, feelings, and happiness. There is a famous quote from Abraham Lincoln. “Most folks are as happy as they make up their minds to be.” While I was going through these learning experiences and seeing over and over how great the power of the mind is, I just started to use this inner power we all have. I told myself I would be happy and live a productive life, regardless of whatever path my illness took. I truly believed I could be free of stress and worry, and live a peaceful, happy life no matter what happened. I put so much stress on my health and what my future would be that too much of my energy was going to a negative place. I decided to take the energy off of my illness and any other negativity in my thoughts. My new thought pattern was, I am happy and fortunate in my life and expect all good things. If something unexpected develops, I will handle it. I began to have faith and hope, and I truly believed my life would be great, no matter what happened. It’s like Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz when the wizard tells her she had the power to go home all along. All she has to do is want it and make up her mind to do it.