The Responsibility to Heal
In the previous blog I talked about the right to heal trauma. It’s important to remind ourselves that healing is a right, but there’s a second level to this right that both challenges and elevates it. I’d like to suggest that healing isn't just a right—it's a responsibility.
You know that saying, "a rising tide lifts all boats"? It's also true when it comes to healing. When you take the time to work on yourself and lift yourself up, it naturally elevates those around you.
Think of a person you admire. Why do you admire him or her? Does this person’s example ever help you make better decisions in your own life? While this person may or may not know who you are, their very existence has a positive influence on you. We’re all connected, and your personal growth creates a ripple effect that touches everyone in your orbit.
Now, I want to acknowledge something important: I know healing from trauma is incredibly hard. It can feel downright impossible at times, and I'm not trying to be insensitive to that struggle. However, the difficulty level cannot be the reason not to try.
Perhaps it's wise to start with an attitude that healing is possible, even if it doesn't seem that way. Sometimes, starting by healing something that feels small and unrelated can help unravel the bigger hurts as well. It's a process, and it's worth it—not just for ourselves, but for the positive impact it can and will have on others.
Here's food for thought: you can't expect outer peace if you don't have inner peace. It's easy to look at the wars raging in the world and feel helpless, but that’s futile because, to put it bluntly, feeling helpless is an excuse to feel upset yet do nothing to change the situation. Worrying might not feel good, but it’s the easy way out. Except it’s not a way out because it only attracts more of what caused the worry in the first place. What if, instead of worrying about what you don’t want, you redirected some of that energy inward? What if you focused on quenching your internal conflicts and imbalances? That's where real change begins.
Now, I know what you might be thinking. "Isn't it selfish to focus on myself when there's so much suffering in the world?" But here's the thing—it's NOT selfish to take care of our well-being first. We can't give what we don't have. If we don't fill our own cup with love, care, and compassion, we don't actually have those things to give to others—at least not high-quality versions of them.
The following quote from the Dalai Lama expresses it the best: "We can never obtain peace in the outer world until we make peace with ourselves". It's a powerful reminder that one’s inner state directly impacts the world around.
So, I challenge you (and myself) to view healing not just as a personal journey, but as a responsibility you have as a citizen of this world. Every little thing within you that you heal, makes you better equipped to help others heal. The more peace you find within, the brighter your beacon of peace shines for those around you.
What do you think? How can you start taking this responsibility seriously in your daily life? Let's keep this conversation going. Your thoughts and experiences matter. Please share them in the comments below.
Take care, and remember—healing yourself is one of the most powerful ways to heal the world.