6 Tips for Self-Healing

Healing others is great, but there is nothing like healing yourself and finally, once and for all, abolishing that story that comes with it. That story that leaches on and contracts the state of the mind every time triggered or illuminated for one to see and you know, do the work. Then comes liberation! What a feeling! FREEDOM! With healing, comes humility and with humility, comes strength. Here are some tips on how to nourish and nurture your self while on the path of self-healing.

1. Be gentle. I can’t emphasize this enough. For me, I have this tendency to get really yang and full force on myself whenever something “comes up” in my awareness field. I want to purge it out immediately and as fast as possible. Clear it, shift it, move it, transmute it, BOOM, done. But sometimes it just don't work like that. That ferocious quality of willingness is great -- but, try to bring in the yin energy into the equation as well. Meeting yourself in softness, in surrender, in complete acceptance, in love and devotion without so much effort or trying. Just the fact that you want to make the change is enough, let nature run it’s course and transform it step by step. The process may be slower than you want it to, but it will be a much more enjoyable experience throughout. Just because your mind wants it to move faster, doesn’t mean it will. Patience and acceptance.

2. Akasha. Space ya’ll. Give yourself some space. Physically, emotionally, mentally, energetically—give yourself the room, the perimeter to process and heal. Tend to yourself without interruption. Give yourself that. You deserve it. As much as you want to run from what’s surfacing, sit in the room with it. Grieve, mourn, shout, scream, cry, weep, be ecstatic, in joy, in bliss and find neutrality. Watch how giving yourself the space will allow the thing that is “coming up” to shift and evolve on it’s own. Don’t cling on to what’s happening, just watch it all play out.

3. Ask for help. If you feel stuck, ask for help. There are healers out there waiting to help you. You are very much a part of their journey as they are yours. We're all here to help each other. The means in which may be different, but essentially, we’re all here to give and receive. Kalyanamitras, that’s us, soul friends. What you receive today, you will give tomorrow. That’s just how it works. In the Western paradigm of thinking, we tend to think it is “wrong” or “embarrassing” to ask for help when we need it. Get over that. The sooner you ask for help, the sooner you will heal. There’s nothing embarassing about wanting to heal. That, takes great courage and strength.

4. Prayer. Again, in the Western mind, prayer is automatically assumed with the framework of religion that then goes to Jesus that then goes to a whole domino effect of mind projections. In the Western world, organized religion is very popular, especially in America where Christianity is widely practiced. If you’re not into religion, that’s fine. I don’t even have a religion. As a yoga teacher, I’m asked all the time what my religion is. I always respond with the same answer: Love. There’s no misunderstanding with that. Just because you’re not into religion, doesn’t mean you have to be against prayer. Prayer just means a dialogue with Self. Talk to yourself, ask yourself questions, engage in the inner dialogue with your Heart. Ask yourself how you feel, what you need, and how you would like it to be better, what you would like to change. And, think about it -- Jesus was a pretty cool dude.

5. Take care of yourself. Soak your skin in the sun, eat vegetables and fruits, make sure you’re drinking plenty of water, exercise, surround yourself around loving and nurturing company, laugh aplenty, don’t take yourself too seriously, have fun and find the inner child within you. I know we’re all very sophisticated and intelligent adults now -- but get this, every single one of us -- yourself included, was once 5 years old. Remember?

6. Breathe. Close your eyes, be with whatever is coming up and just breathe -- inhale and exhale. The breath will calm your nervous system and the quality of your mind. The potency of the alchemical effects of the breath will then become even stronger once you bring your awareness to it. The breath and mind is magic in that way -- really. Prana, life force, chi, it keeps your heart alive and it’s what pumps your blood through your lungs and veins. So beautiful, the breath. Breathe.