“And you? When will you begin that long journey into yourself?” Rumi
When is a good time to begin the long journey of inner healing? The answer to this question is often “never.” When I first started my journey and faced my grief, I didn’t know if I could, I didn’t know if I was strong enough or if I was ready. I just knew that I didn’t want to be trapped in a place of pain for the rest of my life.
People say to me “Oh I will, when I have more confidence” or “Next year I will have more time” or “I am trying, it’s just so difficult.” All of us have felt this way at different stages of our life, because it can be extremely challenging to face our pain.
Kahlil Gibran says “Many of us spend our whole lives running from feeling, with the mistaken belief that you can not bear the pain. But you have already borne the pain. What you have not done is feel all you are beyond that pain.”
This quote is one of my favourites. It holds immense truth and wisdom. It was not until I began the journey and started to heal the wounds of my grief and my past, that I could see all that I was, beyond my pain.
Strategies that helped me:
Desire/Need: You must want change and the desire to create a different life for yourself.
Action: To take the necessary steps towards change, always begins with an action. Seek mentors that can help create a plan, and show you how you can implement this into your daily life.
Commitment: This is an extremely important factor. Without commitment we cannot move forward and see the results from our hard work.
Patience: There are no quick fixes in life. Healing takes time. It requires nurturing, self-love and compassion for ourselves. It means letting go and walking lightly on this earth, embracing the unknown and our ever-changing path.
When we realise how precious each and every moment is, that is when we answer, “I am ready.”
LIVING IN THIS MOMENT 
Beautiful quote and well written too. By divine coincidence it was just this morning my mentor asked us to apply our minds on this Rumi wisdom in this quote and share our thoughts in our next class. Thank you.
Amazing coincidence! Sometimes the timing is perfect. Enjoy sharing the wisdom of Rumi.
The Kahlil Gibran quote is wonderful Karen.
As you say my wise friend – When we realize how precious it is then we are ready. xo
The doors of freedom open when we are ready. Thankyou Val 🙂
Well said. I encourage more physicians to recognize the importance of addressing the mental component of ill health and disease. Behavior modification begins in the brain. Lifestyle changes succeed when the WHOLE person is part of the solution. Whether it’s heart disease, diabetes, obesity, etc… the answers are found within the body and mind. External sources including pharmaceutical and nutriceutical supplements can assist the process, but rarely if ever provide long term solutions. Providing the body with the elements it needs to survive and thrive is the real answer. It’s just not the politically correct answer!
You are so right. It is not the politically correct answer, but I am so grateful that you have an open mind and this understanding in the medical profession. The more western medicine embraces both sides, the more we can heal each other. Thankyou for your contribution.
Beautiful quote. Perfectly timed post for me for I have tears in my eyes. Thank you. You are right. I’m grateful that you’ve led the way inspirationally for me to know that it can be done. You are an angel…never forget what you are giving to others and how they receive it. xo
Thankyou for your support and kind words today Yvonne. I appreciate you and your blog too. 🙂
I just started reading through so many posts that I’d missed. Your blog surely inspires me to think, to connect and to heal. Thanks for being a light in my life. ♥
🙂 Thankyou
Great reminders Karen. And a big part of my path is embracing the full range of feelings and experiences. Not trying to get rid of the challenging ones. blessings, Brad
Yes so true Brad. It seems easier to try and avoid the challenging ones, and yet they lead us to freedom. Blessing to you too. 🙂
Thanks!
Karen, Wonderful.
Two frogs fell into a bucket of cream. Each time they tried to jump out they fell back into the cream. One frog gave up and drowned. The other, upon seeing this, panicked. He began kicking wildly for a long time. When suddenly he felt the cream thickening. It soon turned into butter and he hoped out to safety.
It’s always to soon to quit.
-Alan
I love this story Alan. It is always too soon to quit! It takes courage to keep going. Thankyou. 🙂
Credit Dr. Norman Vincent Peale
‘The power of positive thinking’ was one of the first books I read about changing the way I think! A great man. Thanks Alan.
That he was. And many are the better for knowing him through his ministry.
-Alan
🙂
☺ .
🙂
This portion really spoke to me:Kahlil Gibran says “Many of us spend our whole lives running from feeling, with the mistaken belief that you can not bear the pain. But you have already borne the pain. What you have not done is feel all you are beyond that pain.”
Good post Karen! ❤
Diana xo
It is my favourite quote Diana. It reminds me all the time to go beyond what I see. Thankyou lovely.
Another wise post, Karen. Often people who come for counseling think they are going to get a quick fix. If they knew how hard the work is sometimes, they might not have come at all. They often have no idea how good it can be. LIke Gibran says “… feel all you are beyond that pain.”
The pain is familiar. It takes energy to stay the same. It takes energy to do the work. Which one moves you forward to the “how good it can be” part? I love everything you said, particularly the quotes and what you said about patience.
You have walked that long inner journey Mary and are very wise. It’s so true, it takes energy to move forward and to stay in the pain. It is a gift to move beyond the pain. A precious gift. Thankyou.
Thinkin’
I like it when you think! 🙂 Have a great day.
That Gibran quote is one of my favorites. I also love by him that our sorrow carves the depth of the goblet so that it may be filled that much more fully with our joy.
That is a beautiful quote too Noelle. He is very moving. Thankyou.
The inner journey is fascinating, whether or not it involves current pain. And it is not easy, two steps forward and one back. Patience and continued commitment to travel further is the key, at least that is how I feel. Great post, and quotes from my favorite poets!
You are right Helen, forward and back and lots and lots of patience! Thankyou. 🙂
Wonderful post Karen. Inspirational and wise.
Thankyou Don, I appreciate your comment.
Beautiful quote Karen and great to follow even it is a tough journey. Sometimes it just feels better not to feel at all. I do know, this takes time and a lot of patience.
It’s true Irene, when we face our feelings it can be tough. It takes nurturing and patience. Thankyou and have a great weekend.
Love the quote 🙂
It is a great quote. Thankyou 🙂
This is such a well thought out and insightful post Karen, and the strength that Kahlil Gibran’s quote has mirrors your words. In a sense, it is the same feeling of procrastination – where hiding from our feelings (and doing) seems easier but over time creates a greater & greater burden and misery until that time comes when it implodes. Wishing you a great weekend ~
Thankyou Randall. We all have a cross-road in life, when we have the choice to begin the journey. Have a great weekend too. 🙂
going to print this one out 🙂
Great Annie. Thanks for being here. 🙂
Karen for some time I carried the guilt of my brothers death with me. Yet I did not realise how much until I read a Louise Hays book which made me release any guilt I had and it all came tumbling out the grief, the guilt, the loss I gave myself the permission to forgive myself for not looking out for him, and not realising how much pain he was in. Sometimes we don’t know how heavy our burden is until we try to fix it. Thankfully I am at peace with what happened but I will always miss him dearly. thanks for such a beautiful honest post.
Guilt is such a deep part of our grieving. Thankyou so much for sharing Kath, in doing so, you remind others that guilt is real and that we do need to let it go and forgive ourselves. I am so glad you were able to find the courage to do this. Your brother will always be in your heart, loving you from beyond. You are a beautiful girl. 🙂
As are you Karen, we never know what life is going to show us but the choices we make can help us heal.
Thank you so much for sharing 🙏🏻🌈