I spend a lot of time thinking about what “healing” means. I have physical issues that remain unresolved, but feel “healed”. Likely because I’ve come to terms with these issues and have opened to receive any and all messages they carry. I’ve seen other issues supposedly cured, but not “healed”. The symptoms disappeared, but the underlying condition remained unresolved, allowing other issues to pop up as a result. I would not call this chronic chasing of symptoms “healing” even though it might appear to be so on a superficial level.

So, what then is healing?

The current understanding I have on this complex topic is… (drum roll please!) Healing is the integration of body, mind, and spirit.

It is the recognition that while I have, appreciate, and care for this body; I am not my body. Likewise, I am not my mind. Nor am I my thoughts or my aspirations. I am most definitely not my history, the wounds of my past, the failures or successes I’ve experienced, or my genetic blueprint. I am not my status, my career, my possessions, or any of the other labels I have become attached to or identified with.

I am an extension of the divine, here to have a human experience. The more fully I awaken to this reality, the more fully I embody this truth, the more fully I align my thoughts, words, and actions with this concept, the more fully I am healed.

It seems the key to embracing healing is being present in each moment with a loving heart. Being willing to feel all the feelings and speak the sometimes difficult truth. Making choices that reflect my values and taking leaps of faith when my intuition guides me to do so. Quieting my thoughts and taking care of my body so that I am not distracted by their demands. Honoring my tender heart and nurturing the spirit within. Revealing the inner light and sharing it with the world.

In short, the path to healing is remembering that I’m not separate from anyone else or from the divine. And when I forget, I remember again. And again. And again…