Welcome to the April edition of our newsletter.
As many of you know, I strongly advocate for maintaining a daily spiritual practice, whether it’s through meditation or keeping a gratitude journal. However, recent readings have led me to explore a different perspective on personal growth and healing.
I recently delved into Dr. Gabor Maté’s groundbreaking book, When the Body Says No: The Cost of Hidden Stress. Despite numerous recommendations, it wasn’t until a friend lent me a copy that I immersed myself in its profound insights. The book is exceptional, and I highly recommend it. In particular, Chapter 18 titled “The Power of Negative Thinking”, caught my attention. The title alone challenged the conventional emphasis on positive thinking, prompting me to read the chapter multiple times. Dr. Maté articulates that genuine healing necessitates confronting and processing negative emotions rather than bypassing them with superficial positivity. He emphasizes that ignoring unresolved emotional issues can lead to physical illness, underscoring the mind-body connection.
Following this, I explored Alex Howard’s It’s Not Your Fault: Why Childhood Trauma Shapes You and How to Break Free. Howard echoes similar sentiments, highlighting that unaddressed trauma can hinder spiritual and emotional development. He introduces the concept of “spiritual bypassing”, where individuals use spiritual practices to avoid confronting painful emotions. While this might offer temporary relief, it prevents true healing by neglecting the integration of these emotions.
These insights suggest that while spiritual practices can be beneficial, they should not serve as tools to suppress or sidestep unresolved trauma. True healing requires us to acknowledge, feel, and process our wounds, whether they stem from grief, abuse, or neglect. Attempting to overlay spiritual practices on unaddressed pain can be counterproductive, potentially exacerbating mental health challenges.
Dr. Maté asserts that to heal, we must gather the strength to engage in “negative thinking”. This doesn’t mean adopting a pessimistic outlook but rather being willing to confront what’s not working in our lives, recognizing imbalances, and listening to what our bodies are communicating. Without such introspection, underlying stresses remain hidden and unresolved.
In essence, to live authentically, we must be willing to experience emotions we may have suppressed since childhood. This involves stepping out from behind the masks we’ve constructed and facing our true selves. Suppressing emotions places undue stress on the body, and unresolved issues can manifest as physical ailments. Therefore, addressing and integrating our traumas is not just vital for emotional well-being but also for our physical health.
As Harmed Ali notes in Alex Howard’s online course, Trauma and Awakening, unaddressed trauma can impede spiritual development. The path to genuine spirituality and well-being
involves working through these layers of trauma. While the journey may be challenging, confronting and processing our pain is essential for true healing.
In conclusion, while positive thinking and spiritual practices have their place, they should not be used to bypass the necessary work of addressing and healing from trauma. Embracing our negative emotions, understanding their origins, and integrating them is crucial for holistic well-being.
Wishing you all a reflective and healing journey this April.
Thank you for reading. With warmest wishes, Your WILDFIT coach.
