The Healing Power of Embracing
Mar 16, 2025The Healing Embrace
"We cannot change anything until we accept it. Condemnation does not liberate, it oppresses.” Carl Jung
An essential element of healing is embracing, as opposed to rejecting. Nothing can heal as long as we push it away, so gentle acceptance is critical for shifts to take place.
The pleasant, enjoyable parts of our life and our self are easy to accept. Notice the flow and wholeness that comes with allowing our experiences to be as they are.
Healing requires the same allowing to be brought to aspects of self that might be very uncomfortable. Old stuck emotions, painful memories, fear-based thinking - these all have sharp edges, and it is normal to judge them as bad or wrong, and set about getting rid of them.
However, transmuting our shadow parts only happens by turning towards them with a loving curiosity. Not easy to do, but only in the embrace of an energy can it shift into light.
Acceptance Exercise
Notice something that stirs up a strong negative reaction in you. It might be an emotion, a behaviour, a thought… anything about yourself you tend to judge and shy away from.
- Gather some love and courage, and turn to face this part. Invite it forward. Welcome it. Make it okay for it to be here.
- Be present to this difficult aspect as best you can, in a kind, patient, empathic way. Remind yourself that all parts of self are important; no-one gets left behind.
- Notice what shifts as you sit in this non-judgemental embrace of yourself.
Stuck energy cannot but transmute when it is held in loving compassion, so practice this often.
