Understanding Trauma and Its Impact
Trauma is a wound, a source of suffering that leaves one feeling numb, distressed, powerless and shatters the connection between your soul and your world.
Traumatic events change what gives meaning and purpose to your life and can convince you of being damaged beyond repair.
Humans are subject to traumas – great and small.
The Healing Journey: Restoring Wholeness
The healing of trauma is to bring together the pieces of the shattered soul – the restoring of wholeness and wellbeing that has been lost.
When you journey into your center and concentrate on the stirrings of your own soul, you hear the silence of Spiritful Presence – the wisdom of knowing you belong, your life matters and you have much to contribute.
The healing of trauma is to experience the sacred, the holy, the divine nature of what it means to BE in connection with a power greater than oneself that resides within you.
From Thomas Merton: No matter how badly others trash us and no matter how we internalize this teaching and trash ourselves, there remains that within us that remains unthreatened, untouched and undiminished because it is that within us that belongs to God – AND the many names given to the Life Force, Essence, Source of All Being, Love — that helps you to stay grounded in your suffering.
Wounds as Pathways to Spiritual Insight
Wounds become portals of encounter with the spiritual – however you experience that for yourself.
Trauma can leave you unable to breath. Spirit comes from the Latin word “spiritus” meaning “breath”. Spirituality is as close to you as your next breath, your deep connection to all of Life.
My definition: “breath” is synonymous with movement – movement as inhaling and exhaling of air to sustain life – movement away from feelings of inferiority and striving toward interconnectedness and holism.
From James Finley – clinical psychologist and spiritual director:
“…the secret opening through which we pass into wholeness is hidden in the center of those wounds we are most afraid to approach.”
The Path to Healing Through Shared Understanding
How can wounds become a source of healing? Wounds are to be understood and shared so they are set free by the divine Presence. Shared pain is no longer paralyzing but initiates movement from despair to hope.
You risk sharing in counselling what hurts the most and from feeling isolated and alone, you feel free to appreciate your preciousness – your unique worthiness.
Exploring Spirituality as a Source of Healing
Questions that may guide your interest in spirituality as a healing resource:
- How do you find comfort and solace in your fear, pain, loneliness?
- What sustains you in the midst of your difficulties, challenges?
- From what sources do you draw the strength and the courage to go on?
- What are the deepest questions your situation has raised for you?
- How do you want your faith in self, others and your world to be practically applied, useful in your daily life?
