We all have the power to support ourselves and others through the healing process. It does not require a college degree or some innate skill that you were not gifted at birth. Almost anyone can learn the skills necessary to heal their wounds and transform behavioral patterns in order to live a fuller and more authentic life.
The ability to heal one’s self and to assist others through the healing process requires four ingredients: (1) Awareness that something is wrong/not working; (2) Desire to change; (3) A few relatively basic skills; (4) Dedication to practicing skills and continually moving toward deeper understanding. You truly can change your outlook, modify life-long patterns of behavior and enjoy greater connection with yourself and others if you simply choose to put in the time and effort.
Unfortunately, many of us fall short of putting in enough time and effort. We live in a world that is all about the quick fix or easy solution. A lot of self-help programs and books promise life-altering results with minimal effort or by using simple daily affirmations. While these types of things may work in the short-term and can be a helpful part of a more in depth practice, if you are looking for meaningful and long-lasting change you must be ready to commit to taking a thorough, painful and continual look at diverse parts of yourself and how you function.
The truth is change does not happen quickly or easily. More importantly, the future does not typically change unless or until you rectify the past, heal your wounds, discover your personal myths, gain awareness of your shadows and find ways to integrate all of this into the person you want to be. And yet, the techniques are simple and stages/levels of results can be almost immediate. The key is to stay with it.