Our brains naturally want to keep us in survival mode, ready for the next threat around the corner….just in case. It’s a trauma response that is designed to help us when there's an imminent threat to our safety. But it does not serve us well once we’re safe from the abuse and don’t have an immediate reason to stay on high alert all the time.
In order to heal, we need to live life in between therapy sessions, reflect on how far we’ve come (even if it’s only an inch and you want to reach one mile), and save the trauma memories for certain special occasions only (like therapy, for example). Last week I talked about working toward a place in our healing where we feel safe returning home to ourselves…. Where we feel at home with ourselves.
From my perspective as a spiritual person and a Christian, I also believe it’s important to remember that God is our victor (he’s the ultimate hero) and he’s carrying us through to victory over our suffering and pain.
We are our own heroes too, don’t get me wrong! But I believe that my God, my Creator, is ultimately the one sustaining me. The truth is I wouldn’t be where I am today without God. My faith is integral to how I healed using this art and writing process that I teach.
That’s why I’ve worked some of this into my Redefined Process coaching program…an opportunity to invite God’s spirit into our art and writing process, so we can hear insight from his spirit within us, not only from our subconscious mind. I feel like if I’m not honest in sharing about my faith in this context, then I’m not only failing to give you my full story, but I’m failing to give you all the tools that I’ve found to be successful.
I remember early on in my journey of breaking away from narcissistic abuse, when I was still contemplating how to leave an abusive relationship....
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