What is Self-healing?
Healing by definition means “to make whole”. Self healing is a journey to wholeness, one that leads you inward on a process of self discovery. We enter life perfect – whole and complete. Free of limiting beliefs, negative thoughts, and unfavourable behaviours. So how then do we become ‘unwhole’?
As we grow, the circumstances of our life and the choices we make seem to lead us away from wholeness and the wounds of our inner child and the harsh lessons from the school of life can take their toll on our physical, mental, emotional and
spiritual well being. But the truth is you were never unwhole. Your experiences in life have caused a distorted view of yourself, your life and the world around you. As you begin to heal and change these self limiting beliefs that have held you back for far too long, you will rediscover your core inner perfection.
To help you kick start the process, here are some simple steps you can begin using today that will empower your self healing and your journey back to wholeness.
1. Be Grateful
Gratitude is a very powerful way of creating positive change and bringing healing into your life. As soon as you wake up in the morning, start your day by being grateful you’re alive. By the very fact of being alive, you are more blessed than the millions of people who will not survive this week.
Begin each day with gratitude and you will not only set the tone of how your day will flow, but you will start a new way of being that will change your life completely. When we are grateful for what we have, we attract more things into our lives to be grateful for. Try to take a moment each day to appreciate at least one thing you are thankful for in your life. It can be as simple being grateful for the gift of life or the ability to be able to get out of bed unaided. There are countless ways to live each day with gratitude – start small and you will be amazed at the positive effect daily gratitude will have on your self healing journey.
2. Be Kind to Yourself
Too often, we are faced with criticism, judgement or ridicule in our daily life. The last thing you need is an ‘inner critic’ who wants to join the party. Turn that often negative voice inside your head into your best supporting friend. Be kind to yourself every day. Admire your courage and bravery to face the challenges of life and celebrate your achievements. See the good in all you do. If you make a mistake, accept the error of your ways and remember that you are human. Rather than trap yourself in feelings of anger or guilt, choose to learn and grow from your experiences in life. Healing always comes from a place of love and acceptance so adopt this approach and learn to be more kind to your wounded self.
3. Give and Receive Love
Love is a precious gift we can give to ourselves and the world and is the most powerful healing force in The Universe. See if you can find more ways to send love to yourself and others in your everyday life. Take a moment now to place your hands over your heart. Intentionally send love to yourself and make a commitment to start showing yourself more love each day. By placing your hands over your heart, you create positive energy there and move your awareness to the very source of the endless love within you.
You can also mentally send love to others, even strangers! Always look for ways to show more love in your life. Send love to the person ahead of you in your morning coffee queue. Or if you haven’t done so in a while, remind your parents, partner, child, friend or even your pet that you love them. When we live our lives from a space of love, our energy vibration increases and the love frequency we build can offer us profound healing.
It is equally important that you allow yourself to receive love. “He who gives, receives” so open your heart and allow yourself to receive love from others. Love never needs to be earned – by your simple presence here on Earth, you are deserving of love.
4. Meditate and Be Mindful
Meditation is probably the single most effective tool you have in healing and creating positive change in your life. The answer to every question you will ever have lies within you and can be accessed in the stillness of your mind. You don’t need to sit crossed legged for hours on end – even 5-10 minutes per day where you simply sit, breath and observe your thoughts without judgement can have a tremendous impact on your well being.
If you are new to meditation, you may experience what Buddhists refer to as ‘the monkey mind’ – as soon as you try to quieten your mind, the monkey becomes unsettled and restless. But remember, meditation is not so much about not having thoughts. It is about sitting with them as an observer in ease. Try this wonderful short guided meditation that will help you focus here.
Mindfulness is another great technique to focus your awareness on the present moment. It allows you to be fully present without judgement. We have no control over the past. But by harnessing the power of now, we can choose and create our desired future. Try to be present in each moment of your day. When you begin to live each day more consciously, you will connect with the beauty within you and the beauty that surrounds you.
For those who are new to meditation or mindfulness, Headspace is a fantastic free way to learn.
5. Master you mind
Science tells us that as humans, an individual can have up to 60,000 thoughts per day! 95% of these are repetitive thoughts – ones we had the previous day. And an incredible 80% of these are negative. From this statement alone, we know that almost all our thoughts are repetitive and mostly negative. So it would seem reasonable then that if we begin thinking more positive thoughts, these will become repetitive too.
Is it as simple as that? Yes! The power of positive thinking is unparalleled. And it all begins with you. You have the power in every moment to allow your mind to think positive or negative thoughts. So choose loving, healing, inspiring, happy and hopeful thoughts.
For positive thinking to become a habit, it needs practice. Affirm your practice every time a negative thought creeps into your mind. Accept that at times we all experience negative thoughts but do not allow them to take hold. Remind yourself that you choose loving and positive thoughts. Positive affirmations are a wonderful way of helping you make this practice habitual. Hypnosis is another method many use with great success.
And remember, like gratitude, when you think more positively, you will attract more positivity into your life. Start your mind mastery now – check out this free resource by Louise Hay – world renowned positive thinking expert and author of ‘You Can Heal Your Life”- which can be listened to day or night as often as you choose.
6. Accept who you are now
Accept yourself for the wonderful being you are right now. To truly begin healing the wounds of your past, you must make a conscious effort to practice self acceptance – warts and all!
No one feels perfect. We each have aspects of ourselves we feel need improvement. Your life has been shaped by the events of your past but do not let them define you. Be confident in who you are and who you have become despite the challenges of your past. Remember that even as you age, your inner child will always be present and a part of who you are. Nurture this child like you would any child of the world.
Tell yourself each day – “I love and accept who I am right now. I am exactly who and where I am meant to be.” As you reprogramme your mind to these truths, you will begin to heal the self-limiting beliefs preventing you from a life of endless possibilities.
7. Spend time in Nature
The natural world around us provides the perfect setting for self-healing. In fact, ‘ecotherapy’ is scientifically proven to help those suffering from depression, anxiety or low mood disorders. Not only that, but being in nature reduces high blood pressure and levels of our stress hormone cortisol.
Nature helps us move out of our heads and into our hearts, and grounds our energy back to the Mother earth. Everything is energy and subtly vibrating at its own frequency. Every living thing originates from one ‘Source’ meaning the entire Universe is interconnected.
Embrace the beauty that exists all around you and harness the powerful effect nature can have on your well being. Whether it’s a stroll in the forest, a barefoot walk on the sand or a dip in the ocean to cleanse and purify your body and mind, use the wonderful free gifts of nature we have been given and allow the healing energy of Mother Earth to soothe your soul.
8. Bring Colour into your life!
As mentioned, everything is energy and has its own unique vibration. Colours are no different! Each colour has a different frequency and by choosing different colours, you have the power to change your own frequency.
For example, green is traditionally associated with healing as it brings balance and harmony and possesses a soothing influence on the mind and body. No surprise then that much of the natural world around us is green!
The energy centres of our bodies or ‘Chakras’ also have a corresponding colour. Your favourite colour may mean you are most ‘at home’ in the energy of this chakra while avoiding a particular colour may be a sign of imbalance in the related energy centre.
Become more aware of colours you feel more drawn to or shy away from. Use the healing vibration of colours to accelerate your mission for ‘wholeness’ by bringing colour into your home, garden, wardrobe or creative endeavours.
9. Exercise
Exercise is another powerful tool to improve your health and well being and essential on your journey of healing. One hours exercise equates to just 4% of your day. Physical exercise comes in many forms – walking, running, cycling, gym, yoga, fitness classes etc.
Find what suits you. Listen to your body and treat it with the respect it deserves. Without it, you would not exist. Thank it each day for supporting you and ensure you take care of it.
Exercising our bodies is only one aspect of exercise. Your brain, mind and your spiritual self also require regular exercise to help the healing process. Yoga in particular is a fantastic method of exercising and harmonising your mind, body and soul. The healing benefits of this ancient sacred practice are well documented. Join a local class or simply follow a free routine online. With practice, you will feel stronger, fitter and healthier in body, mind and spirit and experience profound healing. Check out this free morning Yoga routine you can do in under 12 minutes.
10. Nourish yourself
Food is the energy source for our physical and mental bodies. It even has the power to heal and reverse disease. There has been a lot of research done on the benefits and healing properties of food. But it can be a friend or foe. Choose to nourish yourself with ‘healthy’ foods.
What foods are healthy? Those which you consume in their natural state or closest to their original form, i.e. unprocessed. We don’t need to be nutritional experts to eat a balanced diet. Let yourself be guided by your intuition and your bodies changing needs. Listen to it and you will never go wrong.
If you get ‘a sense’ that eating a whole chocolate cake to yourself may be a bad idea, then it probably is. Do not deny yourself some of life’s pleasures but be honest with yourself too. Equally, if you feel you ‘should be’ eating more fruit and veg, then you probably should. So just do it! Trust your inner wisdom and take responsibility for your own diet – police yourself. It really is as simple as that.
11. Stay hydrated
Rather than be included with food, this topic needs its own section. About 60% of you is water – that’s a fact! So it should come as no surprise then that water is the basis of survival. Yet so many of us neglect to take in adequate amounts of this natural resource that sustains our existence.
The same principle as food applies – be your own loving ‘parent’ and ensure you drink enough water each day. Apart from performing its duty of keeping you alive, you will look better, feel better and heal quicker when you are properly hydrated.
Water should always be your first port of call if you feel ‘under the weather’ given the myriad of symptoms dehydration has on the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual body – in fact it removes toxins from every single one of these bodies and releases them via our highly sophisticated filters, our kidneys. Our only job is to help the process with fresh, clean water.
How will you know if you are hydrated? Keep an eye on the colour and volume of your urine, your skin and your energy levels. Your body will never deceive you!
You are more likely to feel sensitive and irritable when inadequately hydrated. The Moon also has a major influence on water and given that more than half of our physical body comprises water, it is no surprise then that the energetic influences of The Moon are often felt more intensely around the time of the full moon.
I would encourage you to increase your water intake during this period as old thoughts, emotions and feelings rise to the surface of our conscious awareness. Indeed soaking in a bath or swimming in the ocean will also help with processing and releasing these.
12. Organise your life
We all know that daily life runs smoother when things are organised. Scientific research tells us we are more fatigued, depressed and have higher levels of the stress hormone ‘cortisol’ when we are unorganized. An endless list of ‘things to do’ can add to stress in your life. We cannot heal if we are stressed.
Taking some simple measures to bring some order into your home, work life and mind will allow you to reduce stress, be more productive, lead a healthier lifestyle, improve your relationships, have more ‘you time’ and sleep better. Begin with organising your inner world – your mind. Remember that you are the master controller of your life and destiny.
13. Have fun!
You came to this life to learn, heal and grow but also to have fun! When was the last time you laughed out loud? If you have to pause and think, it was too long ago! Find ways to bring more fun and laughter into your life. Let your playful inner child teach you how to be, and have, more fun.
Rekindle your innate child like qualities and use them to help you cope with even the most boring of tasks. As we age, we forget how wonderful the simplest of things seemed as a kid. The seriousness of being an adult with all kinds of responsibility often dampens our mood.
So free yourself momentarily from the challenges of life and do something fun. It will help you connect with and nurture your inner child and create more opportunities to bring fun into your life. Remember – think happy, feel happy, be happy!
14. Ask for help
We all encounter times or events in our life when we need help. Asking for help is never a sign of weakness. Actually it’s the opposite. It is important to be aware of your limitations and times you may need assistance.
Of course you can ask family, friends or even seek the help of a counsellor to help you deal with issues you cannot solve yourself. But you can also ask The Universe for help with your problems, big or small.
You have a large spiritual team supporting and guiding your every move. They are with you every minute of your life and always willing to support you from the spiritual realms. But you must ask. As humans, we have free will to make choices and decisions in our lives and your background team in spirit need your permission to intervene and help you make the most of every moment of life.
Give your troubles and worries back to The Universe with faith that it will get to work immediately to assist you in finding solutions to all of life’s ups and downs. Practice invoking and inviting your spiritual team to send you love, healing and guidance each day. You will then be equipped to face any problem in your life with ease.
15. Learn to say ‘No’
No is often a word we find difficult to say, especially to those we love. Many of us would rather sacrifice our own time and energy for the cause of those we love. We can often find ourselves agreeing to do things we do not want to. Maybe it’s agreeing to unwanted overtime in the office or constantly giving too much of yourself to others, knowing that it is not in harmony with your true heart’s desire.
So learning to say no and mean it is one of the most important things you can do to assist your healing journey and help you create healthy boundaries in every area of your life. You should only agree to do what you are capable of. Be mindful of your energy and don’t allow others to take it from you unnecessarily.
Sure there will be times when you may need to be more flexible. But you should only commit to something when you can perform it from your heart and a space of love..Otherwise, it is you who will suffer.
Do not be fearful of other people’s reactions if you suddenly stop being ‘the yes man/woman’. You are only responsible for your reactions. When you have to say no to something or someone, do so with love and mean it – release any tendency to feel guilt.
Realise that you, your time and your energy are important and be confident in your choice to help or not. You will discover a new found respect from others when you begin to set clear boundaries in your life.
16. Write
Writing is one of the best things you can do to propel your self-healing. It allows you to have your own personal, free 24 hour counselling service. The thing that seems to prevent many of us writing is not knowing what to write.
But the beauty of writing is that there are no rules – you decide what, when, how, where and why to write. We can often discover patterns, emotions, passions, traumas or even breakthroughs when we write. It is often a hidden talent that many of us are not aware we have.
Remember, there are no rules – just take out your pen and paper (or laptop) and allow the magic to happen. You have the freedom to be as creative or as factual as you like. You could write a letter to your younger self. Or even your future self! You may even learn things about yourself or life that you were unaware of. Try it!
17. Express yourself
While writing is one way to express yourself, there are many other ways of allowing your creative talents to shine. Singing, dancing, painting, knitting, upcyclling, design… the list is endless and only limited by our minds. We all have unique talents in life, gifts from The Universe that allow freedom of expression through many different mediums. And the old saying of ‘use it or lose it’ is very true.
You don’t have to stick with just one either. We can have many passions and talents in life. It is not about being the best in the game – it is simply an outlet to shine your soul light in the world.
So often we are held back from self expression, fearful of judgement or negative reactions from others. But by allowing your soul light to shine, you encourage others to do the same.
Be that beacon of light for others and inspire the world with your creative gifts. You will be one step closer to healing and ‘wholeness’ every time you do.
18. Pray
Prayer is a powerful force. When many people see the word ‘prayer’, they may associate it with religion. But like Reiki and all types of energy healing, prayer is available to all who wish to use it, regardless of religious belief, faith or culture.
When we pray, we send powerful vibrations from our soul consciousness and energy field to whoever and wherever we intend. You can pray for yourself, for others, for the planet, for peace, for healing or for whatever you choose. It does not have to be a long elaborate script. It can be as short or as long as you wish. Just be sure to pray from your heart.
Know that your prayers are always heard by The Universe. If you would like some prayer inspiration or to learn more about the power of prayer, I would highly recommend “Prayers from The Heart” by Lorna Byrne.
19. Sleep
In terms of physical, mental, emotional and spiritual wellness, sleep is an essential component. Sleep is when our body repairs itself, when our mind processes the events and emotions of the day, and when our spiritual connection truly comes alive. Ensuring all these vital processes requires sufficient sleep, yet today’s modern life gives little importance to this most healing event.
Sleep is a natural process but our lifestyle can make it unnecessarily difficult. If you struggle with getting to sleep or staying asleep, try to uncover the source of the problem – be honest with yourself about your sleep habits and improve what you can.
Be persistent and try to develop a routine. We spend a great deal of time helping children learn a tried and tested method of natural sleep, yet we expect miracles for ourselves despite usually having none.
Give sleep the priority it deserves in your life. You may cope with a lack of sleep temporarily but eventually it will catch up with you. When you are rested in mind, body and spirit, you are an unstoppable force.
20. Breathe!
While reading this you are being kept alive by an unconscious force, something that requires no thought or action on your part – your breathing. Our sophisticated brain and body work harmoniously in synchronization to ensure our survival minute by minute.
Breath is life – we begin life with our first breath and end it with our last. When we become conscious of our breathing, it gives us the power of present moment awareness. Being fully present in ‘the now’ connects the mind, body and spirit, allowing you to choose not only your actions, but more importantly, your reactions to life.
So for a moment now, become consciously aware of your breath. Begin breathing in and feel the cool air entering your nose, following it as it travels all the way down into the bottom of your lungs. Pause for a moment to acknowledge the sense of calm that it brings. And as you exhale, notice the muscles in your abdomen and chest pushing all the stagnant air from your lungs.
Try to spend a few moments each day observing your breathing. As you connect with it more and more, you will begin to notice the immeasurable power and energy it gives you to face the challenges of daily life with ease.
21. Learn ‘The Secret Art of Inviting Happiness’
Last but by no means least, you and every single person on the planet have access to a powerful method of healing known as ‘The Miraculous Medicine of all Diseases’ and ‘The Secret Art of inviting Happiness’ – Reiki.
Reiki simply means ‘spiritually guided life force energy’. It is a simple, natural and safe method of healing that works on a physical, mental, emotional and spiritual level. The ability to connect with an unlimited supply of Reiki energy is transferred from a Reiki Master to the student by a process called ‘attunement’. There are different levels of attunement, the first being Reiki Level I which enables you to perform self-healing and give Reiki to family members, friends or even pets.
Reiki is one of the most empowering things you will ever learn for yourself. It provides you with the key to unlock your powerful innate self healing ability and will lead you on a journey of self discovery that will transform your life forever. You can find out more about becoming a certified Reiki practitioner and how you can receive your first degree attunement here.
