Specialists in psychoneuroimmunology tell us that the psyche, nervous system and immune system are intricately connected, and yet most of us live in denial of this fundamental truth. In a culture such as ours, it is easy to ignore our intuition, emotions and body sensations, relying instead upon conditioned beliefs and patterns of behavior. In my work as a psychotherapist, I am privileged to encounter women who are waking up to a desire to live more authentically and creatively.
To live authentically requires taking time to listen to our inner wisdom and then having the courage to voice it. Since most women have been raised to be "good" daughters, spouses and mothers (which means living up to other people's expectations), our challenge becomes to discover who we are in our essence, beneath all these layers of conditioning.
In this society women are taught from birth to be sensitive to the needs of others, to be caretakers. Although these are certainly admirable qualities, we need to balance them with taking time to recognize and care for our own needs. Doing so means making space in our lives to be alone, to be quiet, and to be introspective in order to emerge from the stillness with a calm mind, compassion and clarity.
Once we cross the threshold of awakening, we become conscious of patterns, beliefs and habits that don't fit anymore and can choose to let go of them in order to express more authentic aspects of ourselves. This process of waking up to our own potential and remembering who we are is not an easy path to follow. It definitely requires practice. In fact, I would say it is a spiritual practice.
Each of us encounters some degree of physical and emotional wounding in our life experience. As a result, many women suffer from depression and self-limiting beliefs. This negativity is internalized and stored in the tissues of our body, creating a disconnection between body, mind and spirit.
In order for healing to occur, we must honestly acknowledge the pain and reclaim those aspects of our being that have been repressed and rejected. We must be willing to witness ourself with clarity and compassion rather than judgment. Living in denial of our authenticity is to live with tension, anxiety, rigidity and chronic stress. Healing offers resilience, awareness, acceptance, integrity and transformation.
Healing depends upon our ability to listen to the deep source of wisdom within. Accessing this inner guidance through sensations of the body as well as the intuition of the heart and imagination is essential to our experience as spiritual beings. Spiritual practices such as meditation, prayer and mindfulness keep us connected to the divine essence in each of us.
Written for, Women's News and Narratives, at Emory University.