Photographed by Luther Bells
If you’re reading this, understand that healing isn’t linear.
If you're reading this, understand that healing isn't linear. Healing can be defined as the process of restoring health or wholeness after experiencing pain. Sometimes when life throws its curveballs, it can feel like that is all that there is. You may feel like you're drowning in thoughts and emotions, struggling to keep afloat. There may be days when you feel okay, and days when you don't, and that back-and-forth may be frustrating.
The uncertainty of the healing journey, not knowing how long it'll last, can be the scariest part. You may find yourself wondering, “How long am I gonna feel like this?” I wish there was a definitive answer, but there isn't. Emotional recovery doesn't follow a straight line from broken to fixed. The journey is full of ups, downs, and random setbacks.
Healing can feel like some days you feel better, then like you took 5 steps back, but that doesn't erase your progress. Healing is such a beautiful journey, because it's a time when you are in tune with yourself and have the opportunity to grow as a person. Think about a time when life threw a curveball, and you didn't know how to navigate it. Maybe you were failing a class, lost a job, went through a breakup, or lost a loved one. Think of how lost you felt. Now look at where you are today. Even if things aren't exactly where you want them to be, recognize how far you've come and the strength it's taken to get here.
During Church the other day, my Pastor said a quote that really stuck out to me. "Erase the period, and insert a but." To explain, sometimes when you're feeling down, that's all you focus on. You say things like "I'm depressed, period. or I'm overwhelmed, period." In doing that, it's so easy to feel stuck in that mindset. As my Pastor said, It's important to erase that period and insert a "but". Don't get me wrong, it's okay to feel your feelings, sit in them if you need, cry if you need, but don't forget that this moment is not your whole story, and it may just be a season.
Try to shift your thinking to something like, "I may be struggling right now, but I know that this feeling is temporary; it does not define my entire journey, and I can learn to grow from it." While you're going through the rough part, try to find the positive and a lesson to take away. Then, give yourself actual time to heal. Do not beat yourself up because you're upset about a situation longer than you may have wanted to be. It's okay; we're human, we are not perfect, and we are all learning as we go.
Tips to navigate your healing journey: pour into yourself. Pick up a new hobby, find things you like to do that ground you, meditate, journal, start therapy, connect with your faith. Do what makes you feel good, because no matter what you're going through, you deserve to find your peace. Make sure to stay true to yourself during your journey. If you're reading this while getting through the storm, always remember that a flower grows after the rain.
Glenajaha B., Clemson University
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