How Long Does It Take to Heal from a Past Trauma? | Ep. 07

Part of the game we play in learning to fly is to let go of the weights that hold us down. 

How long does it take to heal completely from a past trauma?

I’m reminded of a story today, of an infection I had that was particularly persistent and wouldn’t heal no matter what medication the doctor gave me. My insides were wrecked from all the antibiotics, like some nuclear bomb destroyed all life inside of me, but that infection on my back was still thriving.

I was in Belize at this time, in the intense humidity of the jungle. And looking back, that humidity is exactly what prevented the wound from healing. Sweat would get in the wound, feeding the infection. And finally my travels found me at a quaint hostel by a lake in Guatemala. For the first time in two weeks I had working air-conditioning. And in just two short nights of sleeping in the air conditioning without sweating at night the infection was cleared and the wound recovered.

This is the challenge with wounds of the heart or of the mind. Although we know the trauma is hurting us, we continue to think about it, like an infection that festers deep inside of us. What you ought to do is remove yourself completely of the thoughts of trauma so you can finally heal. Doing that might seem a lot like finding air-conditioning in the jungle, but it’s actually a lot easier than that. Remember you have one purpose here and that is to be happy. Happiness is available by letting go of the small, useless dreams and illusions. Happiness is available by sensing them now. Sensing with mind, body, spirit the current spot in time and space like the ring of a bell in silence. That chime, that vibration through it all is what you are looking for.

Claim that point on the map. Claim that moment for your thoughts, that present moment is indeed the air conditioner for your soul.