Hey there, it’s Giselle, your favorite lifestyle blogger on Giselle Ave. Today, I want to talk to you about something that’s close to my heart and has been a game-changer in my life: healing.
We all have experienced heartbreak, disappointment, and pain at some point in our lives. If you were ever a child — which if you’re reading this, you were– you probably had some type of traumatic experience, and it hurt. It hurt real bad.
Sometimes it feels like the pain will never end, and it’s easy to become overwhelmed and hopeless. But the truth is, healing is your gateway to happiness. It’s the key to unlocking a life full of joy, peace, and fulfillment.
Here are some reasons why healing is so important:
Healing helps you let go of the past.
We’ve all heard the saying “let bygones be bygones,” but it’s easier said than done. Sometimes it feels like our past mistakes or hurts define us, and we carry that baggage with us wherever we go. Healing allows you to release that baggage and move forward with a fresh start.
Healing helps you connect with your true self.
When we’re hurting, it’s easy to put up walls and hide our true selves from the world. But healing allows us to let those walls down and connect with our authentic selves. When you know who you are and what you want, you can live a life that’s true to yourself and filled with purpose. When I was unhealed, I wore a mask. I tried to blend in or hide my trauma so that no one would find out about the “real me.” But once I began to heal, layers began to shed away and the true essence of ME began to shine! Today, I shine as my most authentic self, flaws and all!
Healing helps you cultivate healthy relationships.
When we’re carrying around unresolved pain, it can be difficult to form healthy relationships. Healing allows us to let go of the pain and move forward with healthier boundaries and communication. When we’re healthy and whole, we attract healthy and whole people into our lives.
Healing helps you find joy and fulfillment.
When we’re carrying around unresolved pain, it can be difficult to find joy and fulfillment in life. But healing allows us to release that pain and make room for joy and fulfillment. When we’re living a life that’s true to ourselves and filled with purpose, we find joy and fulfillment in everything we do.
So, how do you start the healing process?
It’s different for everyone, but here are some tips:
- Acknowledge your pain.
You can’t heal what you don’t acknowledge. Take some time to sit with your pain and allow yourself to feel it. Welcome the full range of emotions: happiness, sadness, loneliness, embrace them all. We were taught that “there’s always something to smile about,” but there is also always something to be MAD about! It’s okay to feel that pain, this is the first step is to acknowledge the hurt. It’s so liberating to just say: I am so SAD that she is gone!
- Seek help.
Don’t be afraid to reach out for help. Whether it’s therapy, a support group, or talking to a trusted friend or family member, there’s no shame in asking for help. I went to therapy for a while and it helped me learn about boundaries, and other areas of my healing that I knew nothing about.
- Practice self-care.
Self-care is essential for healing. Make time for activities that bring you joy, whether it’s a long bath, a walk in nature, or a good book.
- Be patient with yourself.
Healing takes time, and it’s not always a linear process. Be patient with yourself and trust that the healing will come.
My Own Journey to Healing
When I was 27, I was heartbroken after losing my Grandmother, my primary caregiver and the woman who raised me. My grandmother was my rock, my confidant, and my best friend. Losing her was one of the hardest things I’ve ever gone through. At first, I didn’t know how to cope with the pain, and I felt lost and alone. But then, I remembered something she had always told me – “Love heals all wounds.” That’s when I knew that adding more love into my life was the key to healing.
Losing someone so close to your heart can leave a void that seems impossible to fill. But through my journey, I discovered that by adding more love into my life, I was able to find joy and learn to love myself again. Healing can be a beautiful journey.
I started by practicing self-love. I began to treat myself with kindness and compassion, just like my grandmother had always done. I did things that made me happy, such as listening to my favorite music, dancing, traveling, exploring new hobbies, and writing in my journal. Through these activities, I learned to love myself more and more each day.
I also made an effort to surround myself with people who loved me. I even intentionally created space to manifest the love of my life. It took work, therapy, and vulnerability, but it works. It is working, still up until this day. Being around people who cared about me reminded me that I was not alone and that I had a lot of love in my life.
One of the things that brought me the most joy was adopting my kitty, Mr. Sidney, from the local animal shelter. It was Spring 2016 and I gave myself permission to go get whatever I wanted in life! I’d always loved pets, but I didn’t notice how much I loved cats until I met Sidney. It was love at first sight! (Of course, there’s a pic!)
Being around animals that needed love and care gave me a sense of purpose and helped me to feel connected to something bigger than myself.
Through these actions, I slowly began to fill the void that my grandmother’s passing had left in my heart. Although the pain of losing her will never completely go away, I have found joy and happiness in the love that surrounds me.
Whatever you’re feeling right now, know that healing is possible.
Healing is your gateway to happiness. Take the time to heal and watch as your life transforms into one filled with joy, peace, and fulfillment.
Giselle Avenue 