NAME YOUR HURT

Part Two of the Four Fold Path is Naming the Hurt. I have had it explained to me that the first two parts are similar to going to the doctor. You go and “Tell Your Story” of what happened and then the doctor tells you what the diagnosis is by “Naming Your Hurt.”

What is the loss, the fear and what are your deep wounds? What are the consequences of this injury and how has grief manifested itself in your life? This is an injury that effects us emotionally, physically, psychologically and spiritually. We have lost the ability to trust and love as we are bombarded with the barrage of betrayals with the truth. This is how we give a voice to our hurt and there is a lot of grieving as we circle through Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression and Acceptance. Naming our hurt moves us out of denial. Anger can’t change the past but can push us into seeing the truth to make the necessary changes. We can’t bargain away our losses but instead learn from our experiences. Depression is our reaction to our realization that our life has changed. Acceptance is recognizing that things have changed and will never be as they were before and there is a new found strength in our journey. We accept all our hurt including the vulnerability to move forward with hope instead of revenge. We can rediscover our purpose and know joy and happiness again.

“When you embrace your feelings, you embrace yourself and allow others to embrace you too.” Desmund Tutu

I know I am so thankful for all those that embrace my family and me as we embrace our own feelings and go through our own version of grief.