The Healing Process: What It Looks Like and How to Navigate It

The Healing Process: What It Looks Like and How to Navigate It

Healing is not a destination—it’s a journey. It doesn’t have a finish line, and there’s no set timeline for when you’ll feel "better." Whether you’re healing from grief, trauma, illness, or emotional wounds, the process is deeply personal and often unpredictable. But while healing looks different for everyone, there are common patterns, challenges, and tools that can help guide the way.

What Healing Really Looks Like

If you’ve ever expected healing to be linear—one step after the other, always moving forward—you’re not alone. Many people believe that progress should be steady, but the reality is much more complex. Healing often looks like:

• Two steps forward, one step back. You may feel great one day and overwhelmed the next. This is normal.

• Emotional waves. One moment you might feel at peace, and the next, grief, anger, or sadness hits unexpectedly.

• Physical symptoms. Emotional healing can manifest physically, including fatigue, headaches, or body aches.

• Moments of clarity. Healing brings deeper understanding, self-awareness, and acceptance over time.

• Triggers resurfacing. Old wounds may unexpectedly open up, reminding you that healing is a process, not a single event.

• Unexpected joy. Healing isn’t only about pain; it also brings newfound appreciation for life, deeper connections, and a sense of resilience.

• Reevaluating relationships. Some connections may no longer serve you as you grow and heal, while others may deepen in unexpected ways.

Navigating the Healing Process

1. Allow Yourself to Feel

Healing requires feeling the emotions you’d rather avoid. Suppressing pain only prolongs the process. Grief, sadness, anger, and even joy all have a place in healing. When my mom passed from cholangiocarcinoma, I learned that sitting with my emotions, rather than pushing them away like I did after dad, helped me process my grief more deeply. Journaling, meditation, or simply allowing yourself to cry can create space for emotional release.

Give yourself permission to feel without judgment. Emotions are signals, not problems to be fixed. The more you allow yourself to acknowledge them, the less power they have to overwhelm you.

2. Go With the Flow

If there’s one lesson I’ve embraced, it’s that trying to control everything only creates resistance. Healing means surrendering to the process—allowing yourself to move through emotions, setbacks, and breakthroughs without judgment. My word of the year, Flow, has reminded me to let go of expectations and embrace whatever phase of healing I’m in. Trust that your body and mind know how to heal if you give them the space to do so.

This also means accepting that healing isn’t always about moving forward. Sometimes, pausing, resting, or even revisiting past wounds is part of the journey.

3. Prioritize Self-Care

Healing isn’t just about processing emotions—it’s also about taking care of your body and mind. Simple self-care practices include:

• Getting enough rest and recognizing when your body needs a break

• Moving your body in ways that feel good, such as yoga, walking, or stretching

• Nourishing yourself with food that supports your well-being and energy levels

• Engaging in activities that bring you peace, like journaling, meditation, or deep breathing exercises

• Limiting exposure to stressors, including negative media and toxic relationships

• Seeking out moments of joy, no matter how small—whether it’s a warm cup of tea, a favorite book, or time in nature

Self-care is often framed as indulgence, but in reality, it’s the foundation of healing. Taking care of your body and mind gives you the strength to process and navigate difficult emotions.

4. Find Healthy Outlets for Expression

Writing has been one of my greatest tools for healing. My blog, Still She Rises Up, has given me a space to share my journey and connect with others who understand. If writing isn’t your thing, consider:

• Talking to a trusted friend, mentor, or therapist

• Creating art, music, or poetry as a form of emotional expression

• Spending time in nature to ground yourself and find clarity

• Practicing mindfulness to become more present in your experiences

• Engaging in physical activities like dance, exercise, or gardening to release built-up energy

Expression is crucial for healing because it allows you to release emotions instead of suppressing them. Whether through words, movement, or creativity, find a way to externalize what you feel inside.

5. Seek Support When Needed

Healing doesn’t mean doing it alone. Community, whether through friends, family, support groups, or therapy, can be a powerful source of strength. If you’re grieving, struggling with loss, or navigating major life changes, reach out. Healing happens in connection, not isolation. Seeking help is not a sign of weakness—it’s an act of self-care and strength.

Consider joining a grief support group, connecting with others who have experienced similar challenges, or engaging with online communities that provide encouragement and shared experiences.

Additionally, therapy can be an invaluable tool. A trained professional can help you process difficult emotions, develop coping strategies, and navigate the complexities of healing.

6. Be Patient with Yourself

There is no rush. There’s no deadline for healing. Some days will feel like progress; others may feel like you’re standing still. That’s okay. Growth is happening, even when it’s not visible. Self-compassion is essential—avoid comparing your healing process to someone else’s. Each journey is unique, and healing at your own pace is the best way forward.

Give yourself the same kindness and understanding you would offer a friend. Healing takes time, and every step forward, no matter how small, is still progress.

7. Rebuild and Redefine Yourself

Healing often brings transformation. As you move forward, you may find that your values, priorities, and even identity shift. This is a natural part of the healing process. Instead of seeing it as losing yourself, view it as an opportunity to rediscover who you are now.

• What brings you joy?

• What relationships truly support you?

• What dreams and passions do you want to explore?

• How has your perspective on life changed?

Give yourself permission to evolve. Growth often comes from pain, and as you heal, you are building a stronger, more resilient version of yourself. Embrace this evolution rather than resist it.

Embracing the Journey

Healing is messy, unpredictable, and deeply personal. It requires patience, self-compassion, and a willingness to surrender to the process. If you’re in the middle of it right now, know that you’re not alone. Give yourself grace, trust your journey, and remind yourself that even on the hardest days, you are still rising up. Healing doesn’t mean forgetting or erasing the past—it means learning how to carry it with strength, love, and resilience.

Above all, healing is not about returning to who you once were—it’s about becoming who you are meant to be.