Last stage of healing: self-acceptance

What I learned from my own healing journey is that there are three roads to travel to get to a place where we’re absolutely delivered from the things in the past that are causing us to go on this journey. 

The three roads are self-awareness, self-discovery (the longest), and lastly, self-acceptance. 

The self-awareness road is the beginning of the healing journey. 

I believe that before we can actually begin doing the inner work, we first have to realize that an internal change has to happen in our life. In this stage, we come to terms with the fact that we are responsible for our life. This is when we’re exhausted emotionally, mentally, spiritually and sometimes even physically— but we can’t quite pinpoint why. The only thing certain at this moment is that we’re no longer wanting to be in a relationship with drama, unhealthy connections, and toxic patterns/cycles. We desire to live in peace—but the question remains, how? 

Then there is the self-discovery road.

Simply put, self-discovery is unveiling all of our traumas piece by piece. This part of the journey is the most difficult, and many times the place where people give up, as it becomes too difficult to face the pain of the past. While traveling this road, I remember being on an emotional rollercoaster; some days I was soaring, other days I wanted to revert back to my comfort zone. I struggled tremendously in this part of the journey (more on that in another post), but I am happy to say, I finished that part of the journey!

Finally, the self-acceptance road.

The self-acceptance road is when the journey begins to get smooth; no more detours, traffic, pot holes, or accidents. This is when the road ahead becomes easier to navigate because we’ve accepted every part of who we are—which includes our past, our present, and we’re open to allowing God to determine our future. The Self-acceptance road is where you re-learn to love yourself– this is a place where there is no shame, no guilt, no anger, no fear etc. Overall, this is when your spirit is renewed because you did—and continue to— do the inner work. 

I knew I first reached the road of self-acceptance when I was able to freely speak about the past without it having control over my emotions. I didn’t need validation for what happened in the past, nor an apology. I wasn’t waiting anymore for people to approve my story; I started to paint my own canvas. 

When I could look at both the things that were great about me and be proud; and I could look at the parts about me that still needed work—and own every part of it—I knew I arrived. This road of the journey is where I learned to empower myself, and build a level of confidence that I once lost. I learned to manage my fears, and fight in the spiritual realm. 

This is the part of the journey where this phrase that my Great Aunt said the other day resonates, “Love me, or hate me—God will forgive you”. 

If you desire to live in peace, and you know that you have been struggling to get there, go on the healing journey—I gave you the blueprint to a life you desire to live; travel every one of these roads mentioned above. And listen, you can’t, and don’t need to do it alone, connect with someone who has “walked the walk”.

Heal – you’ll thank me later.

From my journey to yours.