The Winding Path
"The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step."
- Lao Tzu
I've been thinking. A lot. As is usual with me. My brain never shuts off; constantly in overdrive. As of late, I've been reflecting on my healing journey.
When I venture into my thoughts and imagination, I can see the images in my mind's eye, as though a movie is playing on a transparent screen over my eyes. I can see two images with my eyes open. Sometimes the images are clear; sometimes they are smoky or translucent, making it hard to see the details properly. I wonder how others experience their imagination. The vision I have is of a tiny, animated me on a white graph, slowly making my way forward and upward on the diagonal, red arrow line, climbing to the top and doing the Rocky Balboa cheering at the top of the chart (insert iconic stair scene of Sylvester Stallone jumping around excitedly on the little arrowhead). But healing isn’t linear; not by a long shot!
Healing, in my opinion, is more undulating in nature, and it can regress completely if you’re not careful. I also think it’s cyclical rather than linear. I imagine it’s like going for a hike through a thick jungle after a heavy rainstorm, and you can’t really see the ground properly from the overgrowth, so you stumble your way forward, constantly watching and scanning to be mindful of your footing. Sometimes the path is clear and easy to navigate; sometimes you stop for a break; sometimes it’s muddy and slippery, and full of roots; sometimes there’s a snake in the grass; sometimes you’ll encounter friendly faces and happy surprises along the way; sometimes it’s sunny and beautiful; sometimes it’s dark and scary; and, sometimes you fall and slip and have a hard time getting back up. All the while, your well-being could greatly benefit from the experience or you could be in serious danger. It can happen when we lose our battles along the way. In my opinion, the point of the journey is that you stay the course, find a way back to the path, and you keep trying and mindfully pushing forward, and the key word is mindfully. I believe in being mindful, present, and pouring your intention into everything that you do. Regardless, along the way, it’s important to appreciate every good moment, and it’s important that you work through any obstacles or challenges until you overcome them, so you can make your way back to the path and get to the next clearing. And, it’s when we pause, that we can realize just how strong and capable we are, and we can be proud of our progress. At the end, we will be transformed and ready for our next hike, which will somehow re-invigorate and transform us once more; so, it will continue, hopefully, until our dying day.
If you are embarking on your own healing journey or simply thinking about making some small changes, remember to be gentle with yourself. Do the best you can, as best as you’re able, and understand that sometimes our best is limited. Our arsenal of tools expands as we grow and learn from our experiences. You will be better equipped today than you were yesterday. Also, any change that you make opens up a series of possibilities for further changes and it is so rewarding, even if it doesn’t feel like it at the moment. When it feels overwhelming or impossible, I encourage you to pause when it gets tough, but then come back and try again. Reflect and pause often, and take stock of your progress too. It will give you so much confidence and you’ll be so happy you did.
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This post may reflect personal experiences, opinions, and/or creative expressions. It is intended for general reflection and inspiration only and should not be construed as professional advice. Please review the Site Policies for more information.
