Freedom feels good. And whenever that freedom erodes—in any way—it can contribute in significant ways to despair. That was a final, widely apparent finding that came up strongly in my review of these healing accounts. Have you ever had a period of your life when you felt your freedom reduced or even taken away? These… Continue reading →

The first theme across narratives of healing is that of hope—hope that healing is possible, that choices do matter, that tomorrow doesn’t have to be the same as today. As Mark put it, “I didn’t want to just cope. I needed to hope that tomorrow could somehow be different, and clinging to that hope was… Continue reading →

For many who have been convinced there’s nothing in their life that caused their depression—and nothing in their life they need to change to help solve it—discovering the crucial place of lifestyle adjustments in emotional healing can come as a genuine surprise.  We have explored the impact of hope as a basic foundation for the… Continue reading →

In addition to the array of external adjustments that can make a difference, there is an equally diverse set of inner shifts that appear to make a significant difference in catalyzing emotional healing. In the last section, we considered many external shifts that people consistently speak of making in their lives—from diet, exercise and physical… Continue reading →

The power of nurturing relationships to assist healing is legendary. Where relationships are fractured and strained, seeking reconciliation can also be a catalyst for even more healing. We’ve spoken about a great deal about external and internal work people describe in their journey of healing. Lest it seems so simple as “just get to work,”… Continue reading →

In addition to connecting more deeply with other loved ones around, many spoke of the impact of transcendent experiences and connections with the divine as a catalyst for deeper emotional healing. The role and value of human relationships in supporting healing is so widely known as to be beyond dispute. That is not the case… Continue reading →

And there you have it. What do you think of the healing mural we just painted for you?  A quick review.  Looking back over the entirety of this review, there are at least ten major themes that stand out:  Hope in the possibility of deeper healing                             Learning and making small and large life adjustments The… Continue reading →