I
recovered from a broken heart.
Not
a "hurt" heart. Not a wounded heart. A truly broken heart. The
man I had been deeply in love with, and believed was my life-partner,
was not in love with me.
Because
I believe that we do create a large part of our personal realties,
I decided to take an active part in my healing process. I hurt
too deeply to simply leave it to "time".
Here
is my 7 step heartbreak recovery program.
1.
Make a conscious decision to heal.
The
first very important step is to make a conscious vow that you
will heal your heart as quickly as possible. You must want to
be on the "other side of lonely". Sometimes our conscious intention
is overshadowed by our unconscious desires.
As
an example: if you're trying to lose weight, and restricting carbs,
fats, or calories, a part of you is inspired, committed, and excited
to see yourself 10- 20 lbs. lighter. At the end of the second
week, another voice within begins to take more prominence within
your consciousness. "I don't want to go my whole life without
eating pizza", it says. Or, "This is way too much of a
struggle!! I really should learn to accept myself as I am."
Another
example would be if you are trying to create financial abundance
but a part of you believes that you might be enticed to lose your
values if you were really rich, then it is unlikely that you'll
ever be able to create any kind of lasting financial success!
If
part of you wants to heal yourself, but other parts want to hold
on to the pain, recovery may then be slow. The best way to find
out what's deep inside is to close your eyes and ask yourself.
The answers that come from the various aspects of self may seem
very illogical, or just really silly! It's important to let all
of your emotional thoughts and beliefs be expressed. You'll see
shortly how nutty some of my inner voices have been! The whole
point is that if you don't know what's inside of you, how can
you work with yourself to create your dreams?
If
part of you is holding you back, communicate with it and offer
alternatives and solutions that appeal to all of those little,
but important aspects of your Self. Before I began my program
for healing, I sat in bed one night, propped up by my pillows,
my notebook on my lap. To be sure that all parts of me wanted
to proceed with ending my suffering, I closed my eyes, took a
few long, slow deep breaths, and asked my own subconscious, "What
might be the benefits of hanging on to this pain?" I was truly
surprised to receive two immediate responses. "If I move past
this too quickly, he may call and want me in his life, but I'll
already be over him. Then I really will lose him for good."
(This part of me doesn't want to believe that it's really over,
and wants me to remember him, just in case!) and "The pain
will remind you that this was an important lesson that is not
to be taken lightly".
You
were aware of the repeating behavior from his side, but kept hanging
on and hanging on, anyway. You did not listen to your own inner
wisdom!: (This part of me wants me to feel the pain so that I
don't repeat this pattern with any future loves.) Those were my
subconscious beliefs about the benefits of suffering. Yours could
be completely different, but just as "creative". You may believe
that if he (or she) hears through the grapevine how dramatically
you are suffering, he will come to his senses and realize that
he could never love anyone as much as he loves you! (Yeah, right!)
All parts of you must be willing to move on if you want a speedy
recovery.
Do
this simple exercise. Honor the thoughts that are expressed, learn
a little more about yourself, and be willing to move into alignment
with your new goal of healing.
2.
Nurture yourself on every level.
Treat
yourself kindly! Go to a restaurant that you've been wanting to
try. Ask your best friend to join you. Try one of those chocolate
truffles that you've been resisting. Go to bed early with a great
book. Treat yourself to a massage. Give yourself lots of messages
that you are a wonderful person who deserves to be treated well.
Exercise! When you're depressed and gloomy, nothing gets the energy
moving (and your mood with it) as quickly as a good work-out.
Exercise nurtures your body by giving it the strength and vitality
it needs to be healthy and strong. It nurtures your emotional
self by leaving you with the radiant glow of increased energy
and self-esteem. A good workout, walk, or session on your exercise
bike leaves you with the feeling that you can do anything! Try
it - it works! Be in Nature as often as you can. Walk in the park
or hiking trails. Immerse yourself in the emerald light of the
sun, as it illuminates the trees along your path. Listen to the
songs of the birds as they call and answer, and stake territories.
Life is all around you! Let its beauty fill the empty places inside.
Open to the pulses and rhythms of the healing energies of the
Earth Mother.
3.
Use Visualization
Visualization
can be a powerful way of moving stagnant energy and allowing healing
to begin. The following is an example of many visualizations that
I've created on the spur of the moment. Be creative and allow
every hour of your day to become an opportunity for healing. As
the sun comes up in the Eastern horizon, stand at your window.
Let the rays of light gently illuminate your heart center. Feel
the liquid golden fire of the sun slowly driving out all of the
darkness in your heart. Let this light expand throughout your
being until you feel strong, radiant, and whole. Breathe... and
begin your day. As I was driving down the freeway, my favorite
song of the moment came on the radio. I sang "Safe in the Arms
of Love" by Martin McBride, and felt the arms of God/Great
Spirit enfold me and hold me. I felt safe... loved! At the place
where she sings, "Gonna hang my heartaches out to dry," I visualized
taking a blanket of dark energy from my heart center and hanging
it on the line in the bright sunshine, under a brilliant blue
sky. I watched it flap in the breeze and slowly turn a soft pink
color. Love-energy began to radiate from it, my spirit felt light
and happy, and my imaging was complete. Use symbols that suggest
your personal feelings of love, safety, and happiness. You can
turn darkness into light if you choose to!
4.
Do something new!
This
is the beginning of a new cycle in your life. Greet it with excitement!
Now is your time to focus completely on yourself. What are the
things that make you happy? Get a catalog from your local "free
university" or Adult Ed. Classes. Request a list of events from
you local convention center. Sign up for something that you've
always wanted to do. You'll meet new people, and be proud of yourself
for exploring another aspect of the multi-faceted person that
is you! What did I do? I attended the Sportman's Show at our local
convention center, and signed up for a women's Fly-fishing class.
We had a glorious day on the Arkansas River in Salida, CO. I made
many hilarious mistakes (as did everyone!) enjoyed being immersed
in Nature, and had a blast! Caught 3 rocks and a bush! I learned
a little bit more about myself - it's not the actual fishing that
I enjoy, it's being surrounded by Nature. I'm just as happy to
sit on the bank and read or watch the sky and water. The point
to doing something different and new is that you get a large clue
that there is life outside of your past relationship. It lifts
you out of your current situation and gives you something different
to think about. This is a good thing!
5.
Use plant-based vibrational remedies
Based upon the work of Dr. Edward Bach, flower essences are now
commonly found in most natural food stores. Several companies
have branched out from the original Bach formulas. The remedies
help to relieve emotional and spiritual blocks of all kinds. "Rescue
Remedy" is a Bach formula that contains the essences of 5 different
plants that can be used in any kind of emotional trauma. To relieve
a broken heart, the flower essence Bleeding heart is advised.
"Through this essence, the soul learns to fill itself from within,
with strong spiritual forces, so that the capacity to love another
is based on the ability to honor and nourish the Self. Borage
essence is said to be an excellent heart remedy. "It is uplifting
and lightening to a heart that is heavy with grief and discouragement.
Homeopathics
is a vibrational medicine that is the primary form of medicine
in Great Britain and many European countries. Ignatia is the remedy
for grief and despondence. Do not mistake this for the herbal,
Echinacea!
At
the deepest point in my emotional suffering, I manifested a flu
virus that was making its winter rounds. I had not even had a
cold in 2 and a half years! It settled in some people in the sinuses,
others in the throat. This flu hit me right in the chest! My lungs
became very congested and infected. For the first time since I
was a kid, I was knocked flat on my back. I was very sick! Knowing
that I have an immediate hand in creating my personal reality,
I asked myself why this was happening. The answer was immediate
and obvious. Trouble in the lungs, many times reflects a state
of grief, and I had plenty of it! My heart had been broken. When
the flu virus had come into my personal universe, I had said on
an unconscious level, "Hey! Over here! I'll take some of that!"
It
was at that point that I realized I was literally making myself
sick over someone who really didn't care about me. I determined
to get past the fever and the illness as fast as possible. I began
to ask myself other questions. What can I do to facilitate my
recovery on every level? What remedies are available that might
help me? The homeopathic Ignatia was one of the first things I
reached for. The potencies are often confusing, so let me clarify
a little. The lower the potency, the more the remedy works on
dense physical ailments. Higher potencies are a finer vibration
and work on the emotional and subtle bodies.
I
took Ignatia-6x to help clear the vibration of grief from my physical
body. I took 3 - 4 tiny tablets under my tongue as often as I
thought about it (4 - 6 times per day). When my lungs were finally
clear, I switched to the 30x potency to clear it out of my energy
field once and for all. I know that Rescue Remedy and Ignatia
were effective parts of my holistic approach to healing myself!
These essences are made to be taken internally, but you can add
a few drops to your drinking water, rub a bit directly on your
heart center, or add a dropper to your bath water.
6.
Keep track of your progress
Keep
a daily journal of your feelings. Be real. At first, write about
how the pain feels. A good cry or two can help to release the
pain and allow the healing process to begin. On the other hand,
too much crying can keep you stuck in a wounded emotional body
and delay healing. So... honor your feelings and express them
appropriately. Focus on your determination to move past the pain.
Write about your program for recovery. Write about the love and
the beauty that are also a part of your life! When you have had
a good day, be proud of yourself! When it takes you a half hour
after waking up to even think of him (when he used to be the first
or second thought of the day) realize that you are making progress.
Write it down! Soon, you will think of him, but the pain will
be gone. You'll be too busy thinking of the new things in your
life to waste time dwelling on someone who didn't have the capacity
to appreciate the unique and vital person that you are. Let your
light shine!
7.
Expect an ebb and flow
Your
recovery may happen like the flow of the tides. Mine did. I would
be doing so well, thinking, "Why on earth did I let myself get
so emotionally attached to that man? Thank God, it's finally over!"
The next morning, I'd wake up and feel his presence so strong
I could almost reach out and touch him. I'd be super emotional
all day, and have to blink back tears for the first time in weeks.
Total healing usually doesn't happen all at once. It happens one
layer at a time. All of life has a dark, and then a light; an
ebb and flow. One layer at a time. When a teary day or moment
appears, know that it is normal and natural. It will pass! Acknowledge
the emotions. Then find something to lift your spirits and shift
the energy. You are responsible for your own internal environment.
Endless crying does not promote healing. Letting love into your
heart in every way possible does! Choose your thoughts wisely!
How
Long Will It Take?
How
long will this program take? That's a very individual matter.
It may take weeks, or it may take months. But, as with any goal,
a plan of action faithfully followed, will help you get there
much quicker. So, love yourself... laugh at yourself... enjoy
the dazzling beauty of each new sunrise. Take responsibility for
your life and your dreams and never, never, never give up!
This
is my seven part heartbreak recovery program in a nutshell:
1.
Make a conscious decision to heal · A. Bring all aspects of yourself
into alignment with your conscious intent
2.
Nurture yourself on every level! ·
A. Exercise - move that depressed energy! ·
B. Connect with the healing energies of Nature ·
C. Treat yourself kindly
3.
Use visualization ·
A. Be creative... use whatever the moment brings in a creative
way
4.
Do something new! ·
A. Explore something you've always wanted to do! ·
B. Meet new people ·
C. Celebrate this new cycle in your life
5.
Use plant-based vibrational remedies ·
A. Flower essences to maintain balance ·
B. "Ignatia" - homeopathic remedy
6.
Keep track of your progress - journaling for self-awareness ·
A. Be real! Write about how the pain feels. Don't repress anything!
·
B. Write about the steps you are taking for recovery ·
C. Expect to feel better!
7.
Expect an ebb and flow. Honor the natural rhythms of the healing
process.
