July 29, 2023

Time Does Not Heal Soul Wounds

Soul Wounds Do Not Just Heal And Go Away. They Can Last A Lifetime.

“Heal with time,” is a cliché often thrown around to those experiencing deep emotional trauma or ‘soul’ wounds. Despite being a popular concept, it’s far from the complete truth. Time can be a component of the healing process, but to suggest it is the panacea to all our emotional ills is an oversimplification of our complex human experience. Here’s why time alone can’t heal our soul wounds, and the essential elements needed for true healing.

Understanding ‘Soul’ Wounds

Firstly, let’s unpack what we mean by ‘soul’ wounds. They refer to the deep-seated emotional pain that arises from experiences such as traumatic events, deep loss, or rejection. These emotional injuries penetrate our core, often affecting our perceptions, behaviors, and relationships. They’re far more profound than superficial hurts; they scar our psyche, sometimes leaving us with lasting negative effects like anxiety, depression, or self-doubt.

Why Time Alone Doesn’t Heal

Our perception of time as a healer is often derived from physical healing. When we cut ourselves, time usually takes care of the wound. But ‘soul’ wounds are not physical injuries. They are emotional and psychological wounds, and their healing requires more than the mere passing of days, weeks, or years.

Emotional pain or trauma doesn’t follow a linear healing process as physical wounds do. We can’t just wait for a “scab” to form over our emotional wounds and eventually fall off. Instead, these wounds can resurface at unexpected moments, triggered by a thought, an event, or a person. The passage of time may numb the pain or bury the memories, but without proper care, the wounds remain, lurking under the surface.

“It has been said, ‘Time heals all wounds.’ I do not agree. The wounds remain. In time, the mind protecting its sanity covers them with scar tissue and the pain lessens. But it is never gone.”

Rose Kennedy.

Elements Needed for True Healing

Given that time alone cannot heal these deep-seated emotional wounds, what, then, is required for genuine healing? Here are a few crucial factors:

Acknowledgment: The first step in healing is acknowledging the existence of the wound. Denial or avoidance will only serve to perpetuate the pain. By recognizing our wounds, we give ourselves permission to heal.
Expression: Allowing ourselves to feel the emotions related to our soul wounds is paramount. By expressing our feelings – whether through words, art, or movement – we give voice to our pain. It’s a powerful way of acknowledging the wound and starting the healing process.
Self-Care: Healing is not just about dealing with the wound itself, but also about taking care of the whole person. Regular exercise, a balanced diet, adequate sleep, and mindfulness activities such as meditation can all support overall wellbeing and the healing process.
Professional Help: In many cases, especially with severe trauma, seeking professional help can be essential. Trained therapists and counselors can provide the guidance and tools needed to navigate the path of healing, including various therapeutic approaches like cognitive-behavioral therapy or eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR).
Spiritual Life Coaching: Beyond professional psychological help, there’s another avenue of healing that some people may find beneficial: spiritual life coaching. It’s important to note that spiritual coaching does not replace therapy but can be an excellent complementary tool for those seeking holistic healing.A spiritual life coach is a guide who helps you connect with who you truly are. We work with you to change, evolve, and manifest your deepest desires and live a meaningful and authentic life. For those healing from soul wounds, this can be a powerful path to recovery.
Support Networks: Connecting with others can significantly aid healing. Support networks can provide comfort, understanding, and perspective. These networks can include friends, family, support groups, or online communities of individuals who’ve had similar experiences.
Personal Growth: Healing doesn’t mean returning to the person you were before the wound; it’s about growth and transformation. It involves learning from the experience, gaining strength, and developing new insights and coping mechanisms.

Healing soul wounds is a complex, multifaceted process that takes more than just time. While time can offer perspective and distance from the event, genuine healing comes from a deeper place within us, involving acknowledgment, expression, professional help, self-care, support networks, and personal growth. Healing is a journey that requires patience, compassion, and courage. It’s not about erasing our past, but integrating our experiences into our life story and moving forward stronger and wiser.