Many of us travel though life with a well of pain underlying our daily awareness. Often, we’ve felt it for so long that we aren’t even sure where it comes from. It almost seems as if it’s part of who we are or the way we see the world, but it’s important to realize that this pain is something that needs to be acknowledged and processed. The longer we sit on it, the harder it is to work through. Rather than waiting, we can empower ourselves by identifying the pain and resolving to take action toward healing it.
The very thought of this may bring up feelings of resistance, especially if, on the surface, our lives seem to be in order. It’s difficult to dig up the past unless we are being seriously inconvenienced by the hurt. Yet, when we are carrying the burden of our unprocessed pain, sooner or later, it will inconvenience us. If we can be brave and proactive, we can save ourselves a lot of future suffering and free up the energy that is tied up in keeping the pain down.
There are many ways to do this, but the first step is to recognize the pain and honor it by moving our awareness to it. In this process, even if it’s just five minutes during meditation, we will begin to have a sense of what the pain is made of. It might be fear of abandonment, childhood abuse, anger at being mistreated, or some other long held wound. As we sit with the pain, we will also have a sense of whether we can deal with it by ourselves, or if we need help. It may be time to work with a counselor or form a healing circle with close friends. Whatever path you choose, resolve to go deep into the pain so that you can release it fully, and set yourself free. Remember, it is never too late in life to heal what hurts, and there is never a better time than now.
