The Path To Healing
If you're like me, your experience on this journey gets hindered by anxious thoughts. I spent years feeling constantly on edge. But what if these sensations aren’t just symptoms to fear, but teachers guiding us toward a deeper understanding of ourselves and our path to healing?
Aug 18, 2024
Self Growth
11 min
Embracing Fear and Healing
It’s natural to feel concern when our bodies send signals that something might be wrong. Discomfort or unfamiliar sensations can easily lead to anxiety. However, instead of shying away from these fears, we can choose to more deeply observe them.
When we’re in a state of ‘fight, flight, or freeze,’ our survival mind takes over, pushing our calm and coherent mind aside, and our entire focus becomes finding the issue and reacting. In contrast, a calm and coherent mind, dominated by the 'rest, digest, and heal' state, naturally focuses on observing and responding.
Learning to navigate these baseline states is crucial. How do you shift toward a more parasympathetic state? By gradually increasing positive input, outlook, and experiences while reducing the negative ones. This approach works in the short term and builds resilience over time.
Simply, seek peace.
Positive Inputs
Healthy Nutrition: Consuming whole, nutrient-dense foods like fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and healthy fats.
Regular Exercise: Engaging in activities like walking, yoga, swimming, or strength training to maintain physical fitness.
Mindfulness Practices: Incorporating meditation, deep breathing exercises, or journaling into daily routines to cultivate mental clarity and calmness.
Positive Outlook
Gratitude Mindset: Focusing on what you are thankful for each day, which can shift perspective from lack to abundance.
Optimistic Thinking: Reframing challenges as opportunities for growth and viewing setbacks as temporary.
Solution-Oriented Approach: Instead of dwelling on problems, actively seeking solutions and taking constructive action.
Positive Experiences
Spending Time in Nature: Going for long walks, hiking, or simply sitting outdoors to connect with the natural world.
Quality Time with Loved Ones: Being completely present while in meaningful conversations, shared activities, or simply enjoying each other's company.
Creative Expression: Pursuing hobbies like art, writing, music, or any other form of creative outlet that brings joy and fulfillment.
Negative Inputs
Processed Foods: Consuming foods high in sugar, unhealthy fats, and additives that can lead to inflammation and poor health.
Sedentary Lifestyle: Lack of physical activity, which can contribute to fatigue, weight gain, and decreased overall health.
Excessive Screen Time: Spending too much time on devices, leading to eye strain, disrupted sleep, and mental fatigue.
Negative Outlook
Pessimism: Constantly expecting the worst outcomes and focusing on negative possibilities rather than positive ones. The anxious mind is trained to think this is the way to solve and prevent danger, it's quite the opposite, it keeps you in a state of "fight, flight, freeze", in this state, YOU CAN NOT HEAL. Watch this video featuring Dr. Perry Nickelson to learn more.
Self-Criticism: Engaging in negative self-talk and focusing on perceived flaws or failures.
Catastrophizing: Blowing problems out of proportion and assuming the worst-case scenario will happen. This feels like imminent doom, everything feels bad and worse case scenario.
Negative Experiences
Toxic Relationships: Spending time with people who are consistently negative, critical, or draining.
Overworking: Pushing yourself to the point of burnout without taking time to rest and recharge.
Exposure to Negative Media: Consuming news or social media content that is distressing, fear-inducing, or divisive. Most media stimulates stress, I stay clear as much as I can.
Learning from Experience
These moments of fear aren’t just fleeting reactions; they are opportunities to learn. By acknowledging the initial alarm and then rationally addressing it, we gain a clearer understanding of our body’s signals. When anxiety arises—whether it’s brain fog, fear, or other symptoms—it’s a chance to engage in practices that calm our nervous system, like vagus nerve meditation.
Recognizing when our body triggers a sympathetic response (the fight, flight, or freeze mode) and shifting into a parasympathetic state (rest and digest) not only helps manage immediate symptoms but also builds long-term resilience. The next time the reactive state arrives, you know what to do, what works, and you can trust in that and get through it.
Reflecting on the Past
Looking back, I remember a time when tension, pain, and anxiety were constantly a part of my life, and they always will be to some extent. It's a part of being human.. By proactively addressing these issues—reducing negative input (vices)—I’ve seen significant improvements. Healing is a continuous process, requiring us to listen to our bodies and take charge of the moment.
Challenging False Assumptions
Our fears are often driven by false assumptions. For instance, experiencing inflammation might lead to worries about serious health issues. But more often than not, these sensations are normal and manageable. The key is to take them for what they are—signals from our body that need attention, not panic.
When faced with discomfort, we have a choice: react (which brings a state of fear) or respond (which brings a state of healing). It’s about reframing our mindset from anxiety to empowerment.
Addressing Negative Outputs
Negative responses often stem from compounded negative inputs. The act of feeling a negative output—like tension—should be seen as an opportunity to inquire and discover what positive inputs are needed to amend the situation, both in the short term and the long term.
For example, when I feel tension in my gut, instead of spiraling into worry about potential long-term health issues, I ask myself, “How can I address this now, and longterm?” This approach not only helps manage immediate discomfort but also sets the baseline foundation to improve.
Practicing Contemplation and Positive Input
One method I’ve found incredibly helpful is what I call “contemplations”—going for a walk and recording my thoughts as I process them. This practice has become a framework for growth, allowing me to stack positive inputs in a sustainable way. It’s like creating a well-balanced experience for the body, mind, and soul.
Through these walks, I’ve learned the importance of finding stillness, peace, and presence. Instead of letting triggers set off negative reactions, I now use them as reminders to be present and create positive experiences.
Overcoming Worries and Finding Clarity
Worrying often intensifies our focus on the negative, amplifying our concerns. But when we allow these worries to pass naturally or engage in practices that release them, they often dissipate and become non-issues. This has been true for many of my experiences—reminding me that thoughts truly do create our reality.
By choosing to focus on the positive, I shift the outcome from anxiety to empowerment.
Do Not Wish, but Seek to Heal
There’s a significant difference between wishing to heal and actively seeking healing. When we commit our mind and effort to the healing process and see results, we build trust and create lasting habits. Symptoms and feelings are part of being human, but how we respond to them makes all the difference.
Symptoms, in a way, are a good thing because they bring awareness to misalignments and imbalances in our lives. These symptoms act as maps, guiding us toward healing and wellness. Even suffering, when viewed from the right perspective, can be a blessing, providing insight into what needs to be addressed and healed.
Responding Instead of Reacting
The next time you feel a symptom or experience suffering, consider this: you can choose to react and suffer, or you can choose to respond, inquire, and seek a solution. It’s about shifting from a state of desperation and victimhood to one of growth and healing.
Recognizing and shifting patterns in our behavior allows us to break free from the cycle of negativity. Instead of reacting with fear, we can respond with mindfulness, turning potential negatives into positives.
Trusting the Process and Growing
This journey of healing isn’t about always trying something new but about being open to growth opportunities when they arise. It’s the small changes, compounded over time, that lead to significant transformations.
Life will present challenges—but by preparing for these scenarios, we can respond calmly, with confidence. Not everything has to go right all the time, and building resilience allows us to handle disruptions with better ease.
Living with Awareness and Refining Patterns
Living with awareness means refining how we navigate life, both in the micro and macro aspects. The average person might live in a state of tension and stress, often building walls to hide from negative experiences. But by recognizing and addressing these patterns, we can break free from conformity and numbness, leading to a more fulfilling life.
Gratitude for the Journey
This journey of healing has been incredible. Every step, every challenge has taught me to be grateful for the negative experiences, symptoms, and suffering because they serve as maps toward healing. By recognizing and optimizing these experiences, I can capitalize on compounded growth, leading to a life of balance and fulfillment.
