Life can be a tumultuous journey filled with ups and downs. Even to this day I fight from drowning in the endless thoughts of my past hurt. In no way, shape or form will reading a blog take that away. But, it’s easy to feel alone. Lost in the never ending cycle of unwanted thoughts. Your story or mine could be the comfort someone needs to feel just a little more at peace with their wounds. We are not the scars on our bodies or our minds, but the person we fight to become. It’s time to rewrite your narrative.

Right now you should give yourself a hug and remind yourself that you are more than capable of overcoming challenges, feelings and fears. Most likely you have already experienced some type of pain, grief, anxiety, hopelessness or depression, and you got through it. We do not understand the capacity we have for all of these hardships until we’ve gone through them. Our minds are our greatest weakness. These wounds, whether emotional or physical, can cloud our judgment and hinder our growth. But what if we took a step back? What if we embraced the stillness and found a way to reflect beyond our pain?

Finding calmness in the storm can seem daunting. Our wounds create new habits for us, sometimes clouding our true selves but at one point in time we needed it to keep us safe. Be gentle to yourself. What are a few habits you’ve formed due to traumas, generational pass downs or experiences? I know for me I can’t seem to walk alone without feeling I’m being followed. I will not drink anything even in my own house that’s been out of my sight for too long. I plan out escape routes if a danger were to occur. I have never let someone watch my child. I struggle with people pleasing. The list endlessly continues. Through all of that I have to remember I’m more than the fear, anxiety and betrayal. I am a kind, funny, compassionate mother, partner and sister. I am not who I was in the past and neither are you my friend.

As we navigate through the storms, it’s essential to understand the impact of our traumas on our behaviors. It can often times alter the way we see the world and people. Affecting our emotional responses and interactions with others. It can lead to heightened anxiety, irritability and even withdrawals from social situations. Recognizing these changes is the first step to healing.
Often times trauma manifests in ways that can be harmful to ourselves and those around us. Here are a few things to look out for:

Avoidance: Staying away from people and places that remind us of past traumas or just overall avoiding them.

Emotional Numbness: Feeling disconnected from emotions, ourselves and others. Our body and mind shuts down

Anger: Frequent outbursts, loss of patience

Substance use: Turning to drugs or alcohol to numb or cope with emotions

Isolation: Withdrawing from support systems and socializing.

Self harm: intentionally hurting yourself, others or putting yourself in harms way/ unsafe situations

If you can recognize and identify these changes happening with you or a loved one, it’s crucial to take steps towards healing. Seek out to ones you trust, a therapist or crisis center. Engage in daily activities to help with self compassion, reminding yourself that healing is a journey not a destination. Explore new coping strategies such as journaling, sitting outside, yoga, online social groups or even meditation. For me, the simple act of lighting an incense and laying in bed to listen to my thoughts usually helps. On this moment I aknowledge how I feel, and offer compassion. I tell myself I can embrace these hard times and I can come out stronger. By embracing mindfulness, creativity, nature and healthy routines, you can find peace among the storms. Your adventure is uniquely yours, so own it, and work towards your peace to let your journey unfold.

It’s hard to create balance and separation between the past and present. So easy to get sucked into the continuous cycle of agony. Let’s take this time to acknowledge some of the hardships we’ve gone through and the impact that they had on us. Remember that you are so much more than the experiences you’ve gone through. Give yourself love, understanding and gratitude for all you’ve achieved. Realize how far you’ve taken yourself. Embrace the days where you can only do the bare minimum. Allow yourself to think on how you’re feeling, where it’s coming from and cater to your mind and body. Enter a realm of stillness to listen to your inner being to offer acceptance and encouragement, owning who you are and can be. In these moments of peaceful reflection, we realize that our wounds do not diminish us. Instead, they add depth to our character. They remind us of our resilience, our capacity for change, and our ability to cultivate joy even in the face of adversity.

As we venture forward, let us carry with us the wisdom of our experiences, the kindness we show to ourselves in the face of pain, and the unshakeable belief that beyond our wounds lies a pathway to growth, purpose, and serenity. Take a moment today to breathe deeply, reflect, and embrace the stillness. In doing so, you might just find the strength to rise beyond your wounds and step into the fullness of who you are meant to be.