Healing is taking what is present now and moving it closer to Higher Consciousness, rather than back to how it was in the past. [Try re-reading that statement, and as you do, substitute “Higher Consciousness” with any word that resonates with your personal sense of spirituality… such as Nature, Harmony, Peace, Higher Self, Higher Power, the Great Spirit of Love, Universal Life Force, and many others.]

I first became aware of this idea of healing as forward momentum from the writings of spiritual life coach, speaker, and writer Eugene Holden. At the time, I was experiencing physical pain and felt frustrated that I could not return to my usual activities. Once I began focusing on the forward momentum of the healing process—and especially when I stopped trying to do exactly what I had done before—I began to feel more at ease physically. I eventually acknowledged and released the energy of disappointment in my body, allowing fresh energy to flow. To my surprise, I discovered different options that I liked just as much as the old activities. And as I adapted the “usual” ones to fit my current abilities, I found new joy in doing them.

This expanded my view of healing as a process of change. Even if things appear go back to how they were, we will have learned something or released something from our energy—in essence we will have changed who we are on the inside.

I think we all come across such insights as we seek healing. When we are going through a difficult time and let go of any perceived internal or external pressure to return to exactly the way it used to be, we grow in our capacity to adapt, thrive, and live a full and creative life.