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Stay Well with Dona's avatar

Absolutely beautiful and brilliant, thank you for this writing.

Constant process to our last breath....

We are part of a "tapestry" and we are to "own our rough edges" in our imperfect yet perfect whole selves.

Amen xo

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Dr Vicki Connop's avatar

Thank you so much Dona, I’m glad to hear it resonated with you 😊

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Danni Levy's avatar

Beautiful. This week I found something Andrea Gibson shared that sums up my progress. 'We can cry and sing at the same time.' This is where I am and it is amazing. The song soothes the cying. I hear the beauty of life with my difficulty, confrontation, and tears. 💕

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Dr Vicki Connop's avatar

Beautiful Danni. Noone sums it up quite as tenderly and exquisitely as Andrea Gibson ❤️

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Amber Horrox's avatar

Brilliant! I’ve sent that to my partners son who was recently questioning if he’s doing his healing ‘right’.

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Dr Vicki Connop's avatar

Thanks for sharing it Amber, and I'm glad to hear it resonated with you 😊

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Sophie S.'s avatar

Love this list. The one that stands out for me is that you also mention the painful moments, that they will still be there but we have more strength to deal with them. It's never realistic to think life will only be joy and never any painful moment, but knowing how to deal with the down sides if and when they do happen is so important.

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Dr Vicki Connop's avatar

Yes, absolutely. I think this is key. Thanks Sophie 😊

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Clare Egan's avatar

There's so much wisdom in this essay, Vicki. Healing work is tricky to quantify but this list provides a set of helpful guideposts which I think will help people feel less alone. 💕

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Dr Vicki Connop's avatar

Thanks Clare, yes I would say it's tricky to quantify too, though when I set down to write it the list came quite easily.

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Sandra Pawula's avatar

Vicki, It was encouraging to say "yes" to many of the signs you have included on your list. What an excellent chance you have given us for self-validation. There are a few areas where I still have considerable work to do, but interestingly, I took a giant step forward in accessing inner joy today. So, as you say, the healing continues and continues. Thank you, Vicki.

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Dr Vicki Connop's avatar

Thanks Sandra, and yes, still some areas for me to work on too, but I'm happy to hear you found it validating. And yay for more joy 😃

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Alexander Lovell, PhD's avatar

"Living with greater ease, no matter your circumstances. Not making life harder than it needs to be." This is such a simple yet profound statement. It's a reminder that we often add unnecessary suffering to our lives by resisting what is, by clinging to expectations, by judging ourselves and others. Healing, then, is about learning to let go, to soften, to find peace in the present moment. It's about recognizing that even in the midst of challenges, we can choose to live with greater ease.

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Dr Vicki Connop's avatar

Yes, beautifully said Alexander. I was reminded of this just this weekend when faced with a situation that was generating a feeling of panic. I suddenly remembered 'oh wait, I can look for the path of ease here'

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Alexander Lovell, PhD's avatar

Oh, yes. I love that. We really can work with ourselves, we just need to learn to take a step back and have the conversation.

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Farah's avatar

This is such a lovely and reassuring list!

How ironic, I just wrote a post about healing a few days ago: https://open.substack.com/pub/themirroredroom/p/so-when-am-i-fully-healed?r=3iubm4&utm_medium=ios

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Dr Vicki Connop's avatar

Thanks Farah 😊

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Dana Leigh Lyons's avatar

Such a beautiful list, Vicki. This is one that I need (and deeply want) to invite in more often: "Living with greater ease, no matter your circumstances. Not making life harder than it needs to be."

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Dr Vicki Connop's avatar

Yes, me too Dana... Looking for the path of greatest ease in most situations is a discipline I've been trying to cultivate (like everything, it's a work in progress!)

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Anton's avatar

Your article "What Does Healing Look Like?" offers a comprehensive and compassionate exploration of the healing journey. The 16 signs of progress you outline serve as a validating guide for individuals navigating their own paths. Your emphasis on self-compassion and the willingness to meet all parts of oneself resonates deeply, providing readers with both insight and encouragement.

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Farah's avatar

This is such a lovely and reassuring list!

How ironic, I just wrote a post about healing a few days ago: https://open.substack.com/pub/themirroredroom/p/so-when-am-i-fully-healed?r=3iubm4&utm_medium=ios

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