April 16, 2021

There is so much wisdom contained within this message. As a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, I have spent years healing and learning how to connect with my body again. I suffered from years of chronic illness, which was fueled by a drive toward perfectionism in order to feel safe and loved. In retrospect, I now see all of the ways that my body tried to speak with me. It would ask me to slow down, to love myself, to let go. However, I was too afraid to stop and listen. I was afraid to slow down would mean having to more fully confront the pain from the past. So eventually my body would intervene and force me to slow down.

This disconnect with our body and/or with our connection to the divine is common whether you have experienced traumas such as abuse or not. Our society teaches us to keep going and constantly produce. There is no room for listening (to God, to our bodies, to one another) and definitely no time to pause long enough to receive any necessary healing. For many of us, if we do stop, then we feel guilty and inferior as we fear we will get behind in our expected levels of production or achievement.

Wherever you are right now, take at least ten minutes to pause and listen. Listen to your breath, your body, your soul, God. Breathe and then listen some more. You are a beacon of bright light and a divine creator. You are worthy of all the time and space you may need to rest, listen, and heal. You are worthy!