We talk a lot about healing physical scars. However, emotional scars can be every bit as damaging and long-lasting. The road to overcoming emotional scars can be long and tedious, but with diligence and perseverance, you can know peace again.
Write it Down
Many people find it cathartic to write their feelings down in a journal. Sometimes it’s easier to find solace in the written word than it is to verbalize our feelings out loud. Personal journals (you can call them healing journals) are only for your eyes. Once you realize this, you can feel free to let your feelings flow onto the page without worrying about what others might think.
Some perks to keeping a journal:
- A private retreat where you can release your innermost thoughts on paper without the feeling of judgment.
- A chronicling of your painful journey that you can reference later to see your progress.
- A place to jot down memories as they happen; the human mind has a tendency to forget — especially details of traumatic events – even when we say we will always remember what happened to us.
- A safe, non-harmful means of releasing intense emotions
- A place to get hope from your own words, as you look back later and see how far you’ve come. You become sort of like your own cheerleader!
- A way to look back on your healing process to inspire you to continue the rough journey ahead.
Create a Sanctuary
Whether it’s a cozy candlelit nook in your home, a place at the beach, a best friend’s home, or even your place of work – make sure you have a place of respite where you can recharge and revitalize your efforts. You may feel knocked down by life as you trudge through the healing process, which is why you need a special retreat where you can feel whole again.
This could be your job, where – surprisingly enough – the rigors placed on you during a day’s work can actually be good for the mind. You’re focused on a goal and you’re showing strengths in your abilities, which can boost your spirits, keep you from wallowing in your sorrow, and give you something to shoot for – even for just eight hours a day.
A personal space within your home is also a good idea – somewhere removed from your children and spouse as well as the demands of everyday life. Whether you have a craft room in which you work on your hobby or you take a bubble bath every night with candles, carve out time just for you in order to relax and unwind.
While physical scars can easily be treated, emotional scars are much harder to heal. Take it one day at a time and know…this too shall pass.