Self Healing: An Artistic Process, Not a Prescription

A lot of people come to me with the question,

“Can you teach me how to self heal? I don't need guidance, I need to know how to do it."

That is a common question, and the answer is liberating: There is no one exact way to self-heal. Self-healing is an artistic process, similar to the practice of art itself.

Art can be created in countless ways; it has infinite forms. Self-healing is the same.

Our situation is different from everyone else’s. We cannot heal our inner wounds the exact same way someone else heals theirs. It may not work on us completely, even if the method was wildly successful for another person.

Take an art class for example. We can follow the instructions an artist gives and copy their painting, but in the end, our canvas will look slightly different from theirs. Our work is a reflection of us—what we saw, how we interpreted the light, and how we feel. The original painting resembles only the artist's vision.

For self-healing to truly work, even when following established methods, we have to be flexible and willing to adjust the brushstrokes to our unique canvas, not force the methods of others. Our individual process changes constantly because our current situation is always shifting.

The Onion and the Continuous Practice

Self-healing is also a continuous practice; there is no finish line. We can only heal the wounds we are ready to accept in the moment. Healing never addresses all wounds at once, and sometimes each deep wound requires an entirely different approach. Additionally, life throws us tests that can throw us off balance and generate new wounds—that is simply part of being human.

Think of both our wounds and our authentic self as an Onion. Each layer we shed through conscious practice allows the healing to deepen and allows us to learn something profound about who we truly are. Once we get to the core, that is the moment of full embrace—we fully accept the problem, release the tension, and unleash our true, authentic potential.

Key Takeaway

Remember, self-healing is an artistic process. It's a continuous practice. Don't expect the same outcome by following the same methods. To truly succeed, you must be flexible and willing to try and figure out the unique, creative process that works only for you.