Why Your Soul Won’t Take a Sick Day: The Truth About Healing

I’ve yet to meet someone who is 100% completely healed. Even when they appear physically healthy, I’m surprised to learn that their mental health is in the toilet. It seems that everyone is dealing with something, whether you realize it or not. I’m fortunate to know several physicians who, despite their dedication to their patients needs, also suffer from various illnesses and diseases though you’d never expect it. If a doctor isn’t ‘perfect' or a picture of health, then perhaps none of us are.

The truth is, we’re all doing our best, and it might be helpful to give yourself a break if you don’t feel 100%. Our culture has turned healing into a ‘quick-fix’ model. We don’t have time to listen to our bodies or understand the underlying reasons for our conditions. We’re just told to take this medication and swallow that pill, so we can get back to making poor decisions that led us here in the first place. But sometimes, the medication doesn’t work, and now we need more answers. Why does this keep happening to me? Am I broken? Am I being punished?

What’s frustrating is that healing isn’t always linear. Sometimes, we get worse before we get better, and then worse again. It can be incredibly discouraging, but I’ve discovered that true healing is a deep, slow process that requires patience. Our souls are trying to get our attention so that the deeper meaning of this illness can come into our awareness. Our souls want us to acknowledge something that we’ve likely ignored or refused to confront. I can personally attest to this. The healing we seek is often found deep within our pain, but only if we’re willing to acknowledge and release it. That’s another thing we all have in common: we’re all wounded to some degree, so you don’t have to feel alone. But heal yourself so you don’t need to respond to life in a sarcastic negative manner. Heal so you never make anyone else the target of your anger. Heal to avoid unintentionally hurting the people who love you. Heal so you can believe them when they tell you that they love you.

A Shaman once said, “In order to heal the self, we must first heal the spirit, for illness originates in the soul.” I wish you well on your spiritual healing journey. There are only two rules: Begin and Continue.