Once you’ve got the truth, don’t ruminate. Let it illuminate the path to healing! Plus, a warning about suffering.
“Excavate the evidence beneath the dirt that uncovers the truth: that we are flawed, we’ll make mistakes sometimes, and stored pain hurts more than the pain that we face head-on.”
First, if you haven’t seen Part One, I encourage you to check it out!
So…instead of “skipping to the good stuff,” is everyone okay going through this part with me?
Acknowledging the unpleasant feelings is only the start of an honest, beautiful future that is full of all the feelings we hope for.
And with that knowledge…let’s practice some withheld gratification and…talk about suffering and its forms. Ugh. I know.
You’ve experienced it all, so I know you can take a second to explore this with me. *Takes your hand.* We’ll get through this together.
Okay. Deep breath.
We’ve acknowledged that something is not quite right. We’ve identified the less shiny, pretty feelings. Anxiety, anger, and sadness are tough experiences.
But now…what to do with them?
This is where I want to issue a warning: it’s very easy to stay in the Acknowledgment Phase…and then promptly tell your mind, “nope!” And close the door to healing.
Or…do what I did and obsess about it for a bit. This is also not a great idea. 😶🌫️
Suffering is when we dwell in these feelings of pain for too long, afterall.
I’ve done this. I struggle with it even now.
I overcompensated for living in my cocoon of comfort and numbing by really, really analyzing the hurt.
Now that I allowed the not-so-pleasant feelings to be felt, it was easy for melancholy to grip its slimy, slippery hands on me.
It was another trap. One that was almost just as tricky as clawing my way out of that comfort cocoon (I’ve heard it called a prison, too) and facing the trouble in the first place.
I felt ashamed…responsible for neglecting myself. But I realized…I’m here now, and that’s what matters. Maybe you’re here, too.
For now, though, let’s offer up some grace for ourselves. I still struggle with this, but getting to the truth is the path to moving forward.
Anger, helplessness, and anxiety are something meant to go through, not around. (Now I’m thinking of the OAR song “I Go Through,” lol). Let the tough stuff come. Don’t skip over it, because you can’t. You can endure.
I finally saw the pain for what it was: a way to diagnose the real problem.
So, what’s the problem, then? Well, unfortunately, you’ll have to figure that one out yourself. But you’re up for the task–just the fact that you’re still here tells me you’ve gotta be a resilient and determined person. ☺️
Instead of ruminating, let’s illuminate the path to healing by getting to know ourselves more closely. The cycle is so complex. But hang in there a little longer.
And then, yes. You can expect beautiful things to come. You’ve done the hard things…faced the tough truths. There is happiness right there–the knowledge that you did it. You faced the bougie man.
Now, a clearer, more honest place of peace, not a fabricated one, is within reach. A hopeful, joyful, authentic place that underscored it all is now accessible because truth is the antidote to long-term suffering.
Maybe it’s hard to find that truth. That’s all right. Be patient with yourself. Excavate the evidence beneath the dirt that uncovers the truth: that we are flawed, we’ll make mistakes sometimes, and stored pain hurts more than the pain that we face head-on. Remember this post? Try not to bury the broken glass. 😉
Wow. I’m so excited for you. This part has been scary, but I want to relabel this space of overwhelm with real, authentic hunger for the true connection that awaits you: peace, contentment, and strength.
You didn’t need to earn this (you are awesome just for being you), but if there was anything, anything at all under the surface, you now know that it’s time to bring it to the light.
Face it, but don’t dwell on it.
It’s a process where I don’t have all the answers. But here we are! We know what the feelings are and how to face them–not let them drag us down. What’s next? True healing. How? Well, that depends.
Next week, I’ll post AI’s (aka sources from the internet that are credible, like the American Psychological Association (APA)) answers on how to handle this process.
And then…let’s talk about knowing yourself and my favorite personality test, the enneagram!
Note: If you or someone you know is in immediate distress, please reach out for professional help. You can call or text 988 in the US and Canada to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at any time.
A Side Note
I’ve been thinking…with all of the chaotic AI stuff going on out there, it’s important to me that you all know where AI comes into play on my blog and shops…which, by the way, I will be opening a Shopify store in the near future–so exciting!
All of my blog posts about my own experiences are completely my own work. I am a writer, afterall. 😊
For some of the end sections that require sources, I do utilize AI…because it is important to me that if I give any advice, it at least comes from something I’ve heard from my therapist, comes from a reputable resource (that you can decide you feel comfortable with or not), or comes completely from my own experience.
I want to be abundantly clear (as you’ve already seen in my about section) that I am not a doctor. Please seek help from a therapist if you really need help. I am simply a person who has been through some difficult moments. No one should feel alone in their struggles. That’s my main goal.
For my shops, I use my writing to create designs through AI. It’s such a cool time to live!
Expect to see another post about AI in the next few weeks. 😀
Some Topics for Discussion
What do you think? Do you like the direction social interaction is going? What are the pitfalls of social media and digital communication? And what are the pros? Do you struggle with digital communication anxiety? Leave a comment below ⬇️
A Lil’ Disclaimer about comments:
This blog is meant to be a springboard for discussions on some tough topics. It’s so easy to feel alone, but you’re not!
That hurt you feel? Someone knows it, too.
It doesn’t mean your hurt is less important. It means that you’ve got someone out there that is bound to understand. At least a little.
Things can get tricky. Not all people are kind. But most are just trying to survive.
It’s important to honor the nuances in what someone else is going through, too. Your experience is your own.
It’s complicated, yes.
I’m happy to encourage others to share their stories. Like on any other platform, vulnerability comes with risks. Don’t share unless you feel comfortable. You can count on me in the meantime to put it all out there. 😅
Leave a Reply