How to stand in the fire and overcome life’s challenges
In every healing journey, the heroine or hero must eventually turn inward to meet what is most scary and painful and often hidden inside.
The parts that have been ignored or exiled but are in so much pain and crying out for care and inclusion.
The parts that are so wildly fearful that they knock you out and regress you to a time when you were young and without power or abilities to defend or influence a situation.
The parts that are confused and desperately trying to understand why things are the way they are in order to find a solution to fix the pain and find safety.
The parts that would rather see you stay as you are, repeating patterns and failing than to step into the vulnerability of something new.
Turing inward requires courage and a willingness to meet your vulnerabilities and stand in the fire of the pain and discomfort.
Sometimes the turning inward comes after all other avenues have been used and the pain hasn’t gone away:
– when ignoring, avoiding, distracting and numbing what is calling for your attention doesn’t work
– when the pain and call from within becomes louder, more intense and exhausting.
It can take years and even lifetimes to go there, but eventually you must go.
The decision to go inward and meet the pain and exiled and difficult parts of yourself, to face what scares you or horrifies you, is a power move. It is a moment you stand on powerfully sacred ground.
You are taking a stand for you, for your life and for your destiny. You are making a decision that fate –the circumstances and experiences of your life – won’t control the outcome.
As a holistic counseller & healer, I have the honour and privilege to witness this power move in my clients, as well as to encourage and support it. I get to help build the belief and awareness that you can face challenging and unknown territory within yourself and your life. And to facilitate the gathering, connection and integration with your allies and resources to support you.
While no one can enter into your inner world but you, you don’t have to do this alone. In fact, the journey is made easier by calling in and leaning on your resources and support systems:
skills you’ve learned in this life
natural gifts, powers earned and claimed from overcoming past challenges;
god, spirit, angels, goddesses, spiritual practices
hobbies, exercise and creative arts
people, places, creatures and nature – both real and mythical.
Anything that makes you feel safe, well, supported and empowered can be a resource.
In your darkest moments, it can sometimes be hard to see the powers and resources you have in your life. But they are there. Everyone has them.
Sometimes your pain and challenges can cut you off from them and push them into the shadows where it seems they are lost or non-existent, especially when fear and doubt are loud or you’re in a state of overwhelm or freeze.
If this is where you are, find a trusted other or therapist like me to care for you, your system and process and to help you see, name and claim your gifts and resources. This will make facing your challenge easier than trying to do it without them.
Dear Soul, if there was one thing I could gift you, it’s this, as written by the Persian Poet, Hafiz:
“I wish I could show you, when you are lonely or in darkness, the astonishing light of your own being.”
I truly do. Because you are so unique, so gifted, so incredible and you deserve to experience every ounce of your own goodness, gifts and power.
With sincere love and courage,
Kym xx
PS If you need some help to find your way through and out of the pain and suffering of feeling like there’s something wrong with you, book a session or free 20 minute chat to find out how I can help you.
PPS If you enjoyed this blog post and found it useful, consider subscribing to my soul letter, The Way of Courage. You'll receive exclusive content and insights directly in your inbox that I don't always share on my blog. Join me for deeper, more personal insights.
