Healing the Spirit

Healing the spirit may seem like an impossible feat. Perhaps you have experienced trauma at some point in your life or made some questionable choices that do not align with your values. In turn, this may have left you feeling stuck, broken, and unsure of how to heal yourself from within. 

Although these feelings are valid, they are not our truth. Even in the darkest of times, our spirit is not broken. Rather, unresolved trauma and unrest can cause us to experience blockages in energy that limit our capacity for joy. Because energy blockages can manifest both physically and emotionally, we can confuse them with feeling broken and unfixable. 

Thankfully, we all have the ability to heal if we can reframe what healing itself means. Regardless of how hard we work to recover and feel good, we are still bound to experience adversity and energy blockages throughout our lives. What truly matters is the perspective we take and whether or not we can re-envision that suffering.

If you are experiencing a blockage in your energy and would like to work on healing the spirit, there are various things you can try implementing into your daily life.

1. Focus on Your 5 Senses

You may be wondering what our senses have to do with our inner spirit. Senses are overtly physical and simply “there” at all times. Because our senses blend in with the normalcy of everyday life, we forget to truly appreciate them. 

Humans have five basic senses: touch, sight, smell, hearing, and taste. The sensing organs associated with each sense send information to the brain to help us comprehend and perceive the world around us.

Our senses receive and transmit “data” directly to our inner soul. When was the last time you stood outside and took a long, deep breath, carefully focused on the smells out in nature?

Try walking out your front door and picking up a leaf from the ground. Crinkle the leaf in your hand and focus deeply on the sound it makes. You may notice that you stopped worrying for a minute. This is because you were in the present moment appreciating something you’ve likely taken for granted before.

Our senses can help to calm the soul in times of deep turmoil and in turn work on healing the spirit.

Sight is another one of your senses that can have a profound effect on your well-being. When we see a soothing image, messages are sent to our brain that tell it to relax and get out of fight-or-flight mode. Immersing yourself in nature or simply taking a walk outside are simple ways to calm your brain, which in turn helps to quell anxiety and fear. 

2. Ask for Help

Although it is clear that healing starts from within, asking for help is imperative to releasing energy blockages and healing the spirit. Whether you are spiritual, religious, or simply believe in a higher, connected universe, having the courage to ask for help can take the burden off of your mind and body. Humans thrive on connectedness, and you can find that through friends, coworkers, family, community members, or a higher power. 

When was the last time you called up a friend and truly asked for their help? The simple act of expressing your emotions out loud to someone can help to take the emotional burden off of your spirit.

If you’re having trouble finding someone who will listen or simply want to start elsewhere, asking for help through writing or meditation is a step towards healing the spirit. Perhaps you journal when you wake up in the morning and ask for clarity. If writing isn’t your forte, asking for help out loud can help you receive positive, calming energy from the universe, which can aid in healing the spirit.

3. Change Your Perspective

Although we would all love to live in a world without suffering and adversity, such a utopian universe is not realistic. As human beings, we are bound to experience suffering to some degree, whether it is in our control or not.

When thinking about healing the spirit, it is essential that we find a way to manage adverse situations so they do not create prolonged energy blockages in our body. When we are truly connected to our spiritual selves, we are able to live with ambiguities, sufferings, and even grief. Our connection to our spirit allows us to trust, accept, and forgive.

4. Practice Breathwork & Mindful Meditation

When it comes to healing the spirit, mindful meditation is something that can propel you on your healing journey. However, it is essential that you begin a practice and implement it with fidelity, even if it is only for a few minutes each day. 

True mindful meditation means finding the ability to quiet the mind and place purposeful attention in the present moment. A practice like this is critical for cultivating a kind, nonjudgmental attitude towards yourself and others.

Breathwork is one component of meditation that can help to heal the spirit. In Eastern traditions, the breath is called prana, which translates to both breath and energy. When we practice deep, diaphragmatic breathing, it can help to open up blockages in our energy channels, which is a step towards healing the spirit. 

According to researchers, the changes in brain-body interaction observed in meditative practices rely on the voluntary slowing down of breath frequency. The act of breathing is considered a critical factor for reaching the meditative state of consciousness. This means that we actively need to work on quieting the mind down to stillness. 

Intentional breathing (as opposed to spontaneous breathing) also helps to increase heart rate variability. When heart rate variability is high, our parasympathetic nervous system (or the “rest and digest” side of our autonomic nervous system) is active. This helps us to feel grounded and calm.

5. Create Healing Environments 

Do you ever wonder why feel most relaxed on vacation? Sure, it may have something to do with the time you are taking off from work, but it also has to do with your surroundings.

Healing the spirit begins with the creation of healing environments. When we are on vacation, we are typically traveling to a place that is relaxing. Our body physically relaxes which enables our mind to feel calm. 

Sacred space and spirituality have long been used to heal the mind, body, and spirit. What if we told you that you could recreate this feeling of healing in your home? 

A sacred space is any environment that radiates calmness; it is here where you can incorporate practices such as journaling, meditation, and prayer to help heal the spirit.

If you are having trouble thinking of ways to create this type of environment, consider what calms and what clutters your mind. If a messy room makes your mind feel cluttered, think about organizing and cleaning out unnecessary clutter. If you have a backyard or other outdoor space, creating a healing environment in nature can also help you on the journey of healing the spirit. 

Elements of breath, stillness, silence, awareness, and community can all help us on our journey towards healing the spirit. When we start by looking within and work to open up our energy channels, true healing is possible.

Learn more ways to heal your body, mind, and spirit, explore TelMD Resources.

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