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Greetings Soulful Living
Readers!
Although I have
shared my thoughts and feelings with Soulful Living
as a featured writer in the past, I am deeply honored to
announce that I am becoming a regular monthly columnist.
My intention is to empower you on your pathway of
awakening and assist you in accessing and releasing
self-defeating patterns that are blocking your inherent
gifts. I believe your "gifts"
have been with you since before you were born and exist
in various forms. My experience has taught me that the
greatest challenge we face is less about uncovering our
gifts and more about releasing unconscious blocks so we
can fearlessly embrace them. Your unique gifts have been
given to you for your own fulfillment and joy, and also,
so you may extend them for the healing and higher good
of others. For example, one of my gifts is the ability
to identify core issues. This has helped me in my own
life and it’s something I use as a tool so others may
heal and awaken to their highest capacity. This is what
gives me heartfelt joy.
What gives you
joy?
In this month’s
article, I have written about the power of grieving and
how it is the foundation for all healing to occur. I
hope you enjoy it. Please stay in touch by sharing your
soulful thoughts with me when the spirit moves you.
Love,
Laura
Recovering Your Soul
As I sit down to write this article,
I am still reflecting on the walk I took less than one
hour ago. It was a soulful journey along the shoreline
of the Pacific Ocean. These walks have become a time for
recovery and are now an integral part of my healing
process. Privately, I refer to these journeys as my very
own "nature-based counseling sessions" because
it is on these walks that I feel my deepest feelings and
grieve any pain that I may be carrying.
Pain from what you may wonder? Well,
it doesn’t seem to matter from where or what. I have
discovered that the source of my pain is often unknown.
It may stem from myriad reasons: residual pain from
growing up in an emotionally dysfunctional and addictive
home, pain absorbed from those I love and counsel, pain
from the environmental destruction taking place, or pain
from my fiercely protective nature toward animals. Or,
perhaps, it could even be from the insidious and often
well-concealed fear I may be feeling as I witness more
and more of my own light. The point is, my focus has
become less about where the pain comes from and more
about grieving it so I can move through it. My spirit is
put to the test whenever I take these soulful walks for
grieving requires self-honesty, courage and willingness.
I felt inspired when Valerie told me
that grief and grieving was the theme for the August
edition of Soulful Living. As a spiritual
counselor, I strongly believe that grieving is at the
core of our healing and growth. When clients come to me
I remind them that their willingness to grieve their
grief is the hardest yet most rewarding work they will
ever do. Most of us would much rather divert onto
something, anything, than take the time to feel
our feelings and grieve through the emotional tides of
the past. Getting busy, shopping, taking a drink, eating
chocolate, creating relationship drama—all are subtle
diversions away from the healing work experienced only
through grieving.
Grieving is a constant process, much
like a series of ocean waves. It comes up only to recede
and return yet again. Each time we are willing to grieve
we give ourselves permission to recapture past memories
and let them fill our emptiness. Then, like an ocean
wave, grieving cleanses our heart and soul, making room
for inner peace and happiness to surface.
Each day on my walks down the beach,
I surrender my need to be strong and in control. I allow
the ocean to take my feelings of pain, sadness, anger,
confusion or fear so they may be transmuted. For me, the
ocean is akin to a loving therapist who is skilled at
creating a very safe space so I can share my innermost
shame, pain, and sadness. The noise from the crashing
waves comfortably drowns out any sounds I may need to
express, while the salty ocean air soothes my soul and
matches my own saline-filled tears.
Author John Vance Cheney wisely
penned, "The soul would have no rainbow had the
eyes no tears." Without rain, the planet would dry
up and all creatures would eventually die. So, too, when
you do not allow yourself to cry and grieve, your
emotions become parched and you are unable to experience
genuine joy and laughter. Your tears wash away the pain
so you can see the rainbows in your life. Grieving
relieves the pressure you may have accumulated from
squelching a lifetime of feelings. Like a dam needing to
burst open, releasing pent-up tears dissolves the walls
surrounding your heart so your Inner Light may shine
through. In this sense, rainbows are created from your
grief.
We are all connected by the love in
our hearts so I invite you to join me in walking the
pathway of healing. Remember that you are not alone.
Within you resides a compassionate and forgiving power;
it lovingly awaits your readiness to feel your feelings
and grieve the sorrow that may be burdening your heart.
Whatever sadness you are willing to feel and release
positively affects all living things and assists in the
healing of our planet. On the other side of your grief
are splendorous rainbows for both you and me.
Remember that none of us are alone.
As I feel my grief and heal along the shoreline of the
Pacific Ocean, I am walking with you as you are with me.
Together, may we be fully in the moment, feel our
feelings, and honor them as a pathway for awakening.
Such is the way of the soulful pilgrim.
© Copyright 2002
Laura V. Hyde. All Rights Reserved.
Laura's Books:
Laura V. Hyde is Co-founder of Infinite Wisdom, an organization dedicated to the highest human capacity, and a national author and speaker. As a regular contributor for publications across the U.S. and Canada, Laura writes about human awareness and spiritual growth. Laura is the author of the widely acclaimed books The Intimate Soul and Gifts of the Soul, and the creator and teacher of various programs including the Self-Mastery Program, The Art of Compassionate Forgiveness, Wonderful Women: Reclaiming Our Power, Passion and Purpose, and Cultivating the Intimate Life. Please visit Laura's web site at:
www.laurahyde.com.
As a spiritual counselor, Laura provides assistance in person and by phone. You may contact her for a free brochure at:
laura@laurahyde.com.
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