I recently heard someone say that rehashing the past wasn't healthy, and could in fact be dangerous. I think this person was concerned that revisiting the emotions, events, and occurrences of the past could lead us to dwell there and not move forward.
And honestly, that's a legitimate concern! Forward progress is crucial for healing, growing, and thriving.
But I also think there is danger in avoiding the past.
Phrases such as "time heals," "forgive and forget," "don't dwell," "move on," "don't look back," etc can actually be damaging rather than healing.
Here are of few of my thoughts about WHY I think rehashing, or revisiting, the past is actually necessary and HELPFUL to our healing journeys.
~Firstly, the time continuum, in and of itself (past, present & future) has importance. God created time. It is GOOD. Time is for OUR GOOD. Therefore, the past is not inherently "bad," or "dangerous."
~Secondly, I believe we learn & grow from the past in order to process the present and improve our future. I believe if we don't resolve tension and trauma from the past, or reconcile events that have happened in the past, then we cannot move forward into our highest calling and highest healing.
~Thirdly, we cannot run from healing OR from time. Time itself does NOT always magically or properly heal (usually it does not, in fact). Thinking that “time healing all wounds” should be true can actually lead us into unhealthy patterns of suppressing emotions, denying our past, and stuffing truth inside out of reach. All of this will backfire at some point in our lives and the longer past events that need to be dealt with ‘fester,’ the more work we may end up having to do to work through them in the future.
~Fourthly, unresolved issues from our past CAN and DO make us sick, so addressing them is a key to actual, true healing. People do not always experience a physical cause or reason for illness. It’s completely possible that pent-up emotions or unresolved traumas can directly impact our physical, emotional, & mental wellness at any point in time. Healing physically most often also involves healing from the past in a mental/emotional fashion.
We are in our perfect, divine timing. Let’s remember that above all else. Our healing journey comprises ALL of our experiences: those behind us, those we are dealing with right now, and those yet to come. Let’s honor that, honor ourselves, and honor our highest healing potential and work through ANY stage of our time continuum that requires our attention.
Voting your healing victories!
I’d love to invite you to find more of this and other holistic healing content in the Lyme-y & Crunchy group.
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