During a period of inner journeying, I stumbled upon an unexpected lesson in facing emotional release head-on. It all started with my decision to quit smoking. Little did I know, the real challenge (for me personally) wasn’t breaking free from nicotine; it was breaking free from the ingrained habits associated with smoking. Every scenario, every moment, every place linked to smoking had to be confronted by me, no shortcuts allowed.
It was a phase in giving up the addiction, that I couldn’t avoid, like travelling through a brutal storm knowing there’s no shelter in sight. Even years later, I can feel the gut wrench of its pain in my stomach.
This initial phase was tough, both physically and mentally. The discomfort was palpable, my body was fighting against the change. However, little did I realise that this discomfort was preparing me for a more profound experience of release ahead.
The only way out is through.
As I was deep in my inner journeying, I had to confront some deeply painful and hidden aspects of myself. When this happened, I often experienced an intense outpouring of emotions. Tears flowed, and every fibre of my being seemed to ache with the agonising weight of this unresolved pain.
Yet, having braved the ordeal of quitting smoking (and that struggle was real for me my friends), I found myself equipped with a newfound resilience. I was able to navigate through this emotional turmoil with a sense of understanding and awareness, drawing parallels between the agony of mental and physical aspects of letting go of smoking, and the catharsis of releasing deep-seated wounds.
This inner resilience became my guiding light as I delved deeper into the abyss of my inner world. It was a journey of surrendering to the rawness of my emotions, allowing every shade of darkness to merge with the light of my higher consciousness. Confronting my deepest fears, insecurities, and loneliness required a courage I never knew I possessed.
The wound is the place where the Light enters you.
Peeling back the layers, I confronted my ego self and its defensive mechanisms which wanted to halt the journey, stop the mental and physical pain. That’s it’s job, it wants to protect us. But instead of seeking the external solutions it was used to, in order to eliminate the discomfort, I forced myself to gaze even further inwards, acknowledging the pain at its core. It was a profound shift, developing that awareness that authentic self-discovery, true healing, begins by illuminating the darkest corners of our own being.
By embracing this – sometimes extreme – discomfort, I discovered a transformative power within myself. Each moment of introspection, each tear shed, became a step towards liberation and lightness of being. It was a journey of self-discovery, where courage meant facing the shadows within and allowing the light of consciousness to dissolve the pain.
