WHAT HEALING TRULY IS: 6 SIGNS TO WATCH OUT FOR IF YOU ARE HEALING

The idea of healing is one that affects everybody; whether mental, emotional, physical or spiritual, it can involve finding peace after experiencing a type of trauma or wider instability. For those experiencing healing when it comes to mental health; you might have been on your healing journey for some time now. You may have taken steps to improve your mental or emotional state such as engaging in long walks, affirmation journals or regular yoga, but the question remains: Are you truly healing? And what key indicators can you use to ascertain if you have made an impact on your healing journey? Below, we have shared six indicators that you can look out for to know if you are making some headway on your healing journey; You have accepted your past and all that you have been through- Healing is an ongoing process. After acknowledging all the negative experiences you have had in your life, it is important to recognize them, accept them and self nurture without dwelling. If you feel that you are holding feelings of denial towards the negative experiences that may have occurred but you are having trouble addressing them, it might be time to confront those memories with a therapist or if this is not for you - spend time writing out those experiences and detailing how they made you feel and how you would actually like to feel. Awareness of Emotions- Understanding the emotions you're feeling and giving them a name will be an important part of healing. By naming them, you'll have a better understanding of the experience and can take steps towards recovering. You are open to support- One way most people deal with their emotions is to keep them trapped inside and hidden, letting the pain grow. Receiving help from therapists, friends, and professionals is a powerful sign that you're committed to healing. If you ask us, that's a power move. You are taking care of yourself- It can be difficult to maintain a healthy lifestyle when going through a rough patch. However, if you are managing to get enough sleep, you are eating well and you are taking care of your general wellbeing it shows that you are on the mend. If you are finding it hard to complete these basic daily tasks then it might be time to seek some external help. You feel your emotions- Rather than pushing away your emotions and letting them affect you, if you can feel your emotions without being overwhelmed by how uncomfortable they are for you, then this means that there's progress being made in the healing process. Emotions are just that - they are a strong feeling derived from your circumstances, mood or relationships with others. As a human being you have a powerful ability to not only experience emotions - but also to shape your emotions. We can manage our emotions in such a way that we stay in the driver's seat. This is known as emotional self-regulation You let go of certain expectations- Life is not always a bed of roses. When life doesn't go the way you want it to, you get disappointed. But understanding that things usually don't go as planned allows for more peace with events. The idea of letting go of expectations can seem daunting. It can feel like we're giving up on our goals. However, the opposite is true: letting go of expectations means you are taking full responsibility for your life and happiness. You stop expecting others / situations to meet your needs and instead learn to be in charge of your life and experiences. Keep blooming on your healing journey and remember that your journey will never be identical to another’s. Allow yourself time, forgive yourself and take it one step at a time.