Are there people you trust—whether it be your spouse, child, relative, friend, or colleague—trying to tell you about behaviors or habits that might have their roots in past trauma? Do you tend to get defensive or enter into denial when they try to point out such things?
I can tell you from experience that the person who is seeking—saying they know something is wrong but not sure what—is a lot closer to finding healing solutions than the person who is not. It’s not that the person who is unaware can’t find healing; it’s just that they are in danger of staying stuck in their pain for years and perhaps forever. I want to give you a few practical reasons why revisiting your trauma is helpful for your healing process. - Confronting your trauma is the only way through it.
- Facing trauma takes courage, but not once have I seen a person regret the process.
- By working through your trauma, you will gain greater peace and joy.
- By processing trauma, you will regain a lot of power and control in your life.
- And perhaps most significantly, as you get healthy you can help others confront their trauma.
In order to move into a healthier place in life, you need to face that experience—or several experiences—that most wounded you in the past. I am reminded of the Robert Frost poem "A Servant to Servants," where he says, "The best way out is always through." That short line is long on wisdom. You will move out of your pain by working through it. |
|
Gregory L. Jantz, PhD, is a popular speaker and award-winning author of many books, including Healing the Scars of Emotional Abuse, Healing the Scars of Childhood Abuse, and Overcoming Anxiety, Worry, and Fear. He is the founder of The Center • A Place of Hope (www.APlaceOfHope.com) in Washington State. Learn more at www.DrGregoryJantz.com. |
|
|
|
|
Why am I receiving this? You received this email because your email address is subscribed to receive newsletters, updates, and special offers from Christianity Today and our sponsors. If you prefer not to receive promotional e-mails, please use the unsubscribe link below. Email Preferences | Privacy Policy | Advertise | Subscribe to Our Magazines |