The therapy room is where we can focus solely on ourselves. In a world of noise, everything can finally quiet down. We can face ourselves and hear our internal voice emerge. Yet it’s a bold and brave act to listen, especially if it was always more comfortable not to. Therapy gives you permission to stop running from yourself and allows the truth to surface. Connection with and knowledge of yourself is the greatest gift you can give yourself and others. Why? Because everyone is your mirror reflecting parts of yourself you might not be aware of yet – things you believe, like, dislike, need, reject, etc. (consciously and subconsciously).
When it’s most difficult to listen, turn inside with even more intention and ask yourself:
- What unexplored and untouched places within me have I been scared to see?
- The way I hurt that person – what does that mean about the pain I’m holding onto? What am I silencing within me? What is asking to have a voice?
- What does the person I hurt possess that I see as an extension of myself that I don’t like/haven’t connected to/haven’t acknowledged/haven’t accepted/feel the need to reject or hurt?
- What part(s) do I need to connect or reconnect to within myself?
- What pains and traumas are unresolved and unheard?
- What experiences stored in my body do I need to honor, grieve, process, reorder, and/or dispel?
The more love and compassion you grant yourself through internal work, self-awareness, grieving, and healing, the more love and compassion you’ll have to give others. The deeper your understanding of how everyone is your mirror, the deeper you’ll realize that every frustration or annoyance you find in another is an opportunity for self-reflection and self-discovery. Everything that you dislike is a window into feelings about yourself – the hard part is silencing the critical mind that wants to blame and externalize and instead looking within and asking yourself – What does this say about me and how I view myself and the world?
Our relationships offer the greatest opportunities to deepen self-reflection, self-connection, and self-acceptance, thus fueling healing and growth. A deeper self-knowledge drives a deeper love for others.
If you are ready to get started with therapy, please email us at info@kozioltherapyandcoaching.com or call/text at 224-504-9854.
We look forward to working with you.
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