What If Healing Isn’t a Destination But a Journey?

 

We’ve all been at a point where all we wanted was to “heal,” to forget and be free from the weight of the pain we carry. We see ourselves saying things like “I just want to feel normal again,” with hopes that one day the pain will vanish. We look forward to the day we’ll finally be able to let go. 

But have you ever thought for a while, what if the healing we await is the process and not the outcome? What if it’s not a finish line like we think?

People often treat healing like it’s a goal that needs to be achieved. If you’re going through pain or heartbreak, you see people telling you things like; move on or get over it. If I can “get over it” that easily, would I still be in pain? 

The mindset that healing is a destination creates unnecessary pressure, guilt and unrealistic expectations. If it’s really a destination, why do some people take more time to heal than others? 

Healing is non-linear. It doesn’t happen smoothly, nor is it always straightforward. It takes time, and you need to be a part of the process for healing to happen. Those emotions you wish to forget are all part of the healing process. You can’t forget them or let go if you don’t indulge in them first. 

When I say indulge in these feelings, I mean letting yourself feel these emotions. When you’ve felt it, you’ll naturally see reasons to be free. 

Healing isn’t really dramatic or even visible. It is quiet and sometimes slow. But what does it truly look like? 

Healing is like tending to a garden. You are the garden, and your heart is the flower. It takes one trim after another to achieve the desired result. 

Sometimes, we unknowingly delay healing by resisting the emotions that need to be felt. We’re stuck in the same cycle of pain and suffering because we’re yet to make peace with the experience. Allow yourself to feel the anger, the sadness and the guilt without feeling weak. 

Healing asks for patience, not perfection. You may not be able to erase the past, but you can learn to carry it gracefully. 

Healing is that moment when you choose you, and say to yourself, “I deserve better.” It’s releasing yourself from the chains of control and letting everything unfold on its own. 

Healing is discovering yourself again. Rediscovering things that make your soul feel alive again and forgiving yourself for your mistakes and past choices. 

It’s not a race of who will heal first; it’s your personal journey. It might take someone else a month to heal, while you may take a year to do the same. You’re both on different journeys, and the destination doesn’t matter. Don’t look forward to the day you heal; follow the journey instead.