Healing Hurts

Why do we hurt so easily?  Why can’t we just let go of our disappointments, our anger, the put-downs against us and the bad way we feel when someone says something that upsets us?  In some instances, we do let things go, but in other cases we can hang on to the hurt for months, years or even a lifetime.

We’ve all been hurt at some stage in our lives.  We think: How could they say that?  How could they be so unkind?  How dare they put me down!  Who do they think they are?  Every time we think of the person, the situation and the pain, it brings with it an emotion.  That emotion, if unpleasant, will make us feel sad, angry, bitter, jealous and so on.  The hurt, and the person who caused it, still have power over us.  Worse still, if we are hurting, we may also be our own worst enemy.  When we are feeling our own hurts inside us – often unconsciously, in other words unaware to ourselves – then we are in a prime position to attract more of the same into our lives! 

So how can we stop the hurt?  The first step is forgiveness, but not to the perpetrator of the hurt.  No, first we have to forgive ourselves, and stop being so hard on ourselves.  Then recognise that we all have the power within us to change the hurtful thought when it comes up.  When you think of the hurt, just say “STOP!  DELETE!” and begin to shake it out of your whole mind and body experience.  If you don’t let go, you might get a headache, a sore throat, high blood pressure, bad skin or worse: holding on to hurt can and does affect the body over time! 

Think to yourself: do you want the hurt to carry on and have a negative influence on you for the rest of your life?  Or would you prefer to break its power over you and look forward to a brighter, more positive future?  When you put it in these terms, it’s not a difficult choice!  I know from personal experience that letting go of hurt is more easily said than done … but I also know the benefits you will enjoy if you do so, and the damage you will do to yourself if you don’t!  You don’t necessarily have to forgive the other person (although it’s better if you can), but you do have to forgive yourself to break the vicious circle of hurt simply causing more hurt.

So next time you feel a hurtful thought coming up, make a conscious decision to change it to something positive.  Say to yourself: 

• I now choose to be kind to myself in my thoughts.
• I choose to accept myself.
• I choose to enjoy my day.
• I choose to dissolve all pain and anger attached to this situation, and in doing so I am acknowledging the love I have inside me!

Remember that love and hurt are lying side by side.  Look to your left and there is pain and anger.  But look right and there is inner peace, contentment and love.  All it takes is a 51% pull in the right direction to get there!  Choose the way that allows you to dismiss other people’s issues and not let them get inside you.  You cannot change other people, but you can change yourself!