Healing: Lean In And Take A Deep Breath
Healing: Lean in and take a deep breath
One of the most healing aspects of a therapeutic process is the acknowledgment of endings
and termination. Identifying the ending points within a process, or the completion of the process
itself is the signal light for the spirit of our progress and growth. Without these critical
affirmations, when nothing short of perfection is enough, the process feels like it’s forever. As
we plod on all we feel is dissatisfaction and deficiency. The alternative, maybe the only choice
we really have, is to find ways of honoring our incremental growth while maintaining our
motivation to continue on.
It feels as though that’s a point we are at right now. Two weeks ago the universe went into crisis
mode. Survival dominated our minds. Every fiber of our being told us we could either Lean In or
would retreat into oblivion.
On a personal, familial, communal, national, and even global level, we have rallied against the
forces of an invisible enemy. We have had to adjust our way of doing things, we have engaged
supports, and we have remembered to laugh.
Now, it seems as though the dust is starting to settle. The crisis has not ended and we can’t
afford to take our focus off the prize, yet we also need to draw awareness to a shift that has
occurred, and the beginnings of the turning of a corner. They tell us suffering, beyond even what
we have encountered so far, is on the horizon so the seriousness of the situation has only
begun. But, something has changed and we must acknowledge it. We must honor it, or-else we
will succumb to the terror of “never enough”. We have adjusted, we have adapted, we are
fighting the fight.
So, just for today as we close out March Madness; the Lean In phase of reactionary panic, and
begin to experience the suffering of the long battle ahead, it’s critical that we take a deep breath.
The kind of deep breath that allows us to humbly and gratefully acknowledge the progress
made, and to steady ourselves for the journey to come.