Healing is in Your Places of Joy
For as long as I can remember, I’ve been fascinated by the human journey – how we grow, change, and ultimately heal. There’s a profound wisdom in understanding how the threads of our experiences are woven together to create the unique individuals we turn into. Working with people for many years has shown me something important — while our stories are undeniably important, they are not the source architects of our healing. In fact, I believe that true healing often blossoms in the unexpected places – in moments of joy, lightness, and connection (often right in front of us).
Last night, for instance. My daughter (who is about to leave for college), asked me to help her create some playlists of our favorite songs. We sat for nearly two hours listening to music, laughing and having fun. Then, when I thought we were done she said, “now let’s create the CD covers!” The old me would have tuned out. But the new me sat still for even longer. It was fun.
My Autopilot Life & Learning Groundedness
Eighteen months ago, my life was a whirlwind. Career ambitions were soaring, and a tight schedule consumed my days. I was caught in a perpetual state of motion, living on adrenaline and caffeine. Juggling church leadership, a demanding writing career, and frequent travel for corporate consulting, I was spread too thin. Without realizing it, the once-nourishing role of church leadership was becoming a source of increasing anxiety. I began to question the weight of responsibility and the constant internal drive to keep up with my own ideal of who I should be. In the midst of this I had a stark realization: If I was feeling this way, how many more were feeling it? We multiply who we are, what was I multiplying? I had to get off what felt like a hamster wheel of to-do’s, and a mindset that was always somewhere else and rarely present.
The philosopher and poet David Whyte suggests true reality (groundedness) exists at the intersection of our inner world and the external world. I’m learning the truth of this as I’m moving slower, and having a more right-sized view of myself and what I can do. As I cultivate a grounded presence, I’m also becoming more aware of the anxiety so many people carry. I’ve long believed in the power of calm and focused leadership to alleviate stress in others. But I’m experiencing this firsthand right now, and how a grounded perspective positively impacts those around me, from my family to the teams I work with.
Healing Through Joy: Beyond the Shadows
As I’ve been on this slower path for a little while now, I’ve come to understand that healing isn’t solely about confronting our wounds or unraveling the complexities of our past (and I’ve done a lot of that!). It’s more about learning to embrace joy.
Joy, in its many forms, is a powerful avenue for healing. It’s the laughter shared with loved ones, the exhilaration of a new adventure, the simple pleasure of a good book, the peace found in nature, or in peace of driving down the road in my old Mercury with no phone and no technology.
These moments sadly are often the ones we lose touch with when our minds are in the future or in the past. But if we can learn to get present, we’ll find our souls nourished and our hearts made glad, like last night. The two and a half hours of sitting still while listening to music was all my soul needed.
It sounds simple, I get it. Of course, this isn’t to diminish the importance of addressing our pain and trauma. Healing is a complex process that often involves confronting our shadows. If we don’t do that, we’ll see in the outside world what’s really on our inside and we’ll attempt to control others. But it’s essential to remember that healing is not solely about the darkness; it’s about finding balance, about integrating the light and the shadows into a more whole and integrated self.
The Invitation: Join Me on the Path
I invite you to join me in exploring the power of joy on your journey to wholeness. Friends, I’ve looked at the dark stuff so long that I knew there had to be a better way. That’s why I want to write a few blog posts on what I’ve discovered. The next blog coming is about what a life of joy looks like. No matter who you are, the applications will work. I promise you.
For now, take some time to reflect on the types of moments that bring you the most happiness. Notice how these moments shift your perspective, uplift your spirits, and help you feel peace. What if you made space for just a few more of those?
Remember, healing is a personal journey, and there is no one-size-fits-all approach. But by embracing joy, by cultivating a deeper connection to ourselves and the world around us, we can walk the path of health and become the type of transformational people that the world needs right now. But most of all, the type of people who have peace.