Many of us are striving towards self-healing, knowing that ultimately the only thing we can change is ourselves, and afterwards from that inner change bring healing into the bigger field and inspire others to embark on a healing journey themselves. But what do we need for that – what ability, what technique, what kind of support?

What does it mean to heal? In my native tongue the word healing – “iscjeljivanje” – literally means making whole, so for me healing is just that bringing the system into wholeness. Connecting where I feel divided, cleansing the blocked and impervious inner pathways, building healthy relationships and leaving those that are beyond repair, accepting my own imperfections and those of others – including what I reject or judge…

And first step is always asking what healing is needed at this time, and how can we begin to bring it into our lives. Not which healing technique sounds fun or new and shiny, nor which is at a discount at this moment, but deep inside what is in the way for me to become healthy wholesome human being and what is the first step on that path.

Sometimes healing requires us to step into our shadows to find the source of the pain, sometimes it is enough to let go of something unhealthy (like a relationship, a belief, a habit), sometimes we need to bring into a place of emptiness a seed of light, a new, healthier way of being.

As we are complex beings, we need to heal on different levels and in different ways. Sometimes the process starts on a physical level, sometimes emotional or cognitive, sometimes even subtler ones. But for a deep and lasting healing we need to allow that process to resonate on all levels. Regardless of where the shift towards the healing begins, we need to allow it to weave its way through our whole system. For the healing isn’t simply curing a wound in only one sense, on one level, but aligning all of our dimensions and reconnecting into wholeness all of our layers.

I firmly believe there is no one ultimate technique, nor one universal solution, nor one ideal approach. I myself practice different techniques, apply multiple perspectives and diverse approaches equally on my personal growth path and continuous deepening of healing as when working with others, supporting them to find their way towards wholesome health.
From my experience over last 20 years or so, one of the most important things I learned is that there are many factors we need to take into account, many of them more important than whether the technique is adequate, and maybe the most important factor is our wish and willingness to change, to heal, in other words our readiness to take the responsibility for our growth and health.

Taking on the responsibility for our condition, growth and change does not mean taking the responsibility for adversities, hardships, wounds and other obstacles that have brought us to the place we are currently in. It simply means stepping into our own power and admitting that now that we are here we have a CHOICE to stay in the same place or take a step towards healing.

So I find it more important from asking how to heal to ask the question WHY do I want to heal. Even though many techniques offer fast and deep shifts, integration of the healing takes time and motivation, courage and strength. Sometimes the healing journey is long and requires changes in areas of life we never thought were related to our issue. So knowing the purpose of healing helps us in those moments when it seems easier to continue along the old well known road, to remind us what are our values and deep needs. Without purpose, it will be difficult for our healing to be wholesome, long-lasting or even successful.

Once we have the purpose and we take the responsibility it is easier to begin the exploration of techniques and ways to support ourselves. Because, even though we are responsible for our next step, we don’t need to have all the knowledge or skills needed to take it. Here, at this moment, in this pace of responsibility and willingness we can open the place for a healer, therapist, teacher, coach or a any sort of practitioner to support us in what we can’t do alone.