Can you fully heal from trauma?

What does it mean to heal?

People have told me that healing is freedom from symptoms. Free from cancer. Free from autoimmune. Free from anxiety. Free from anger. 

Others say healing is the freedom to live: Freedom to live without debt, freedom to live without fear, freedom to live authentically without caring about criticism. 

I agree.

But then what about the moments you are diagnosed, or you do go into debt, or you do feel insecure because of rejection? Does that mean you’re broken?

After teaching thousands of students and seeing them work through just as many challenges, I had to redefine healing for my own sanity. 

Healing is not breaking free from anything. 

Healing is remembering something you’ve forgotten: 

• Maybe you have a diagnosis and have forgotten that you are still whole, loved, innocent, and not at fault. 

• Maybe you are anxious and have forgotten that you are still perfect, lovable, and worthy of miracles.

• Maybe you are easily irritated and have forgotten that you still deserve forgiveness, grace, and second chances. 

Maybe, healing is remembering. 

At one of my advanced workshops, a student raised her hand and asked: “So, when are we finally done?”

Subtext: Do we ever fully heal? Do we ever get to stop “fixing” our brokenness?”

This question has come at the end of every workshop:

• can you fully heal from PTSD?

• can you fully heal from trauma?

• can you fully heal from depression?

• can you fully heal from childhood?

• Have you ever seen someone “complete” the healing process?

Underneath these questions is the sense that challenge = brokenness. 

that limiting beliefs = brokenness. 

that fear = brokenness. 

When in reality, the challenge, limitation, or fear is not a sign of brokenness, it's just a sign that you are carrying something that no longer helps you get to where you want to go… or you wouldn’t feel that you were “struggling” with it.

Every feeling, thought, habit, and reaction either helps you or hinders you… either weighs you down or propels you forward. 

Blocks aren't necessarily good or bad, they are just hurdles that can either make you trip or make you learn that you can jump higher than you thought.

Ask yourself:

• Where do you want to go?

• What do you want to experience?

• Is a symptom hindering you from getting there? Is a belief delaying your progress?

• Is an emotion holding you back?

• Who do I need to be to get to where I am going

If something is hindering you, you are not broken; You are just aware, aware that something you are carrying no longer supports you. 

When are you done healing?

When you remember who you need to be and then go be that (no excuses) THAT is when you are “done” healing.

To heal is to remember who you are and then go be that person despite the challenge. 

Do you want to heal from a memory?

• Ask: What kind of person doesn’t let this memory define them?

Want to heal a symptom?

• Ask: What kind of person doesn’t let this symptom steal their joy, peace or power?

Want to heal a pattern?

• Ask: What kind of person do I need to be to choose a new pattern?

So, can you fully heal from trauma?

Healing is when you stop living as a slave to the symptoms, patterns, and memories that don’t support you. 

You choose who you are despite the trauma. 

And with your choice, yes, you heal.

Trauma is the great equalizer of the masses.

Healing is a choice only for the brave.

This is a thank you note to my brave students.

Truly, you people are incredibly fearless,

Jackie

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