Transformation happens one small step at a time. We keep our personalities, our genetic makeup, and our physical bodies during a transformative experience. But, coming out the other side of that experience, excellent changes can occur, new creations, and maybe even miracles. We are still ourselves but maybe more compassionate, more kind to ourselves and others. We may understand better that we are only a tiny part of the multiverse, and certainly small even on our planet. And, although we ourselves may not be able to create change worldwide, we add to what is there, we impact our communities, friends and families, and maybe that is enough.
Becoming a less anxious, stressed person can do wonders for our physical health and well-being. Lifting out of depression can feel like rebirth. These are no small matters. Our qualities of life can improve even when we still have our same histories, our same families, and our same bodies.
Psychotherapy helps some people as do so many other kinds of healing, a list too long to even imagine. What each of us chooses to do with the resources we have is up to us, being unique to everyone around us. We can listen to their opinions and advice, but when we are set on a particular path of growth, that is ours to design and manage. No one lives in our skins, and sometimes no one knows best but ourselves. Certainly, people like Brene Brown and so many other psychological researchers, speakers, theologians, and spiritual peoples from around the world can help us, and we still get to participate in our own development and healing.
What helps us transform? Often, a relationship with a professional who can act as a guide assisting us, while we tell our stories yet another time, curious about what has changed each time we tell these stories. A safe, consistent, confidential and caring relationship works best but we don’t always know how to find a wonderful facilitator. Much like a partner, a treasured guide is someone with whom we will share information and intimacy - sometimes even more than we would ever share with a family member.
We must also face our fears about being known to ourselves and to anyone else. This is no small task itself. Intimacy does take courage, a leap of faith, or sometimes that miracle that we all seek. More on this later….
