As we face obstacles and trauma in our lives, we are sometimes forced to make dramatic changes in order to shift the energy and pain. This always results in self-growth and a greater expansion of consciousness. "The more pain, the more gain." This adage holds tremendous truth but brings no comfort at a time of crisis. It is important to remember that everything is a process. One must move through the process. There is no way to bypass being human. Yet there are five basic steps to self-growth and healing that will help us transform the pain and expand spiritually:

Step one: Set the Intention/Desire for Change

The first and most important step for self-growth and healing is to simply to desire change. One must turn inward and take a deep, close look into the heart. "Am I ready for change?" "Do I have the courage to change? "How can I relieve the pain?"
These are important starting questions. Answer them honestly. If you are ready, then you can begin your journey.

Step two: Relax/Seek a Serene Place to Heal and Grow

This step may require leaving your comfort zone. You may need to take a trip or go on a retreat. You must remove yourself from the "freeze zone."  The freeze zone is that place where you are stuck. In this sense, I am talking about physically removing yourself. Find a new setting or environment for healing to take place. Also, the freeze zone could also mean an emotional shut down where you no longer allow yourself to feel all your emotions. In other words, you are blocked.

Step three: Let go/Release that Which is no Longer Serving You

This means that once you are in a safe place and you have begun to relax and quiet your mind, whether it is through breathing, meditation, prayer, or just walking in nature, you can now begin to release. Sometimes we hold onto the pain because we are comfortable with it. We know what to expect. If we let go, then we sail into the unknown. This is very unsettling for there could be even more pain ahead. At this point it takes trust or faith to move forward. We must break down old walls and barriers. In order to move past the pain, we must feel every inch of it and then let it go.

Step four: Rebuild/Create a New Paradigm & Gain a New Perspective

This step requires "new eyes." We now can step back from the drama and be an observer. We can see things that we never saw before. We are no longer buried in the constant changing world of emotions. It is now up to us to re-create ourselves. It is at this point that we begin to see that it didn't happen TO us, it happened FOR us. That's right, we gain the perspective that the challenge we faced made us stronger and helped us grow and expand.

Step five: Transform/You are the Master of Your Beautiful Self

Now we begin to realize that we create our existence. No one is responsible for our lives but ourselves. No one is to blame. We learn to forgive others and to forgive ourselves. We take responsibility for where we've been and where we are headed. It's amazing what wheels we start in motion with only a single thought! We are creating our lives and ourselves and our future every moment of every day. And it's only the moment that counts because it's all we really have...and in an instant, it too will be gone. So we stay in the moment and we realize that it's easy to deal with a moment. There's no way to overwhelm yourself by asking all those crazy questions that may not have an answer anyway. We just do the best we can in any given moment and live in our hearts with integrity and honesty. We learn how to listen and how to love. All the rest comes easily and with serenity.

Katherine Lash has been a educator and holistic health practitioner for over 20 years. Her travels have taken her to over 10 countries around the globe. Katherine resides in Sedona, Arizona where she and her partner offer spiritual and healing retreats. These retreats are customized, intensive, one-on-one sessions which result in true transformation. Visit her website at http://sedona-healing-retreats.com

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