Search Results for: Healing

Stressed? Sensory Awareness might be the answer for healing.

| mcullen

Today’s Guest Blogger Jean Grant Sutton writes about why we are stressed.  The Great ‘Post Covid’ Unwinding It has become so very clear to me of the havoc that has been wreaked on our world from the Covid Pandemic. Of course, for most of us the disruption to our financial stability is still having ripple effects. For those in small business or even those that lost jobs or needed to let their job go because of the lockdown may still be struggling to get back above water.  Where I am experiencing the most clarity of devastation is in our human nervous system. With the knowledge of physiology and how we are wired in our brainstem for survival, I personally feel and witness in others the huge contraction that was triggered by this threatening virus. Huge repercussions to many connected systems take place when the stress response is activated as it…

Healing Starts When You . . .

| mcullen

“Healing starts when you write about what happened and how you felt about it then, and how you feel about it now. And in order for our writing to be a healing experience, we need to honor our pain, loss and grief.” — “Opening Up By Writing It Down” by James Pennebaker “The Write Spot: Writing as a Path to Healing” has an expansive section on how to write about difficult subjects without adding trauma.

Healing. Prompt #565

| mcullen

Write about a time you experienced a healing—physically, spiritually, or emotionally. Or, if you are in the process of pursuing healing . . . write about what you are doing. Or, what healing methods do you want to pursue? Let me count the ways . . . Aromatherapy, autogenic relaxation, art, biofeedback, deep breathing, exercise, Feldenkrais, guided imagery, hydrotherapy massage, meditation, music, prayer, progressive muscle relaxation, qi gong, tai chi, tapping, visualization, yoga. There are a number of resources listed in The Write Spot: Writing as a Path to Healing, especially ideas about how to write about difficult events without adding trauma. Available at Amazon, print ($15) and ebook ($3.49).

Writing as a Path to Healing

| mcullen

In reference to The Write Spot:  Writing as a Path to Healing, author Elizabeth Beechwood said, “The contributing writers delve into the pain of their past, reveal their vulnerabilities, and share the lessons they’ve learned with all of us. Their courage is written on every page of this collection.”  After reading my contributor’s copy of editor, Marlene Cullen’s newest anthology, I am in full agreement with Ms. Beechwood. Especially the last sentence regarding courage written on every page. It is not easy to write about traumatic events, but twenty-one people have done so and were willing to share stories and poems with readers. The writers come from various walks of life and offer readers a look into difficult times they experienced at some point. These writers all used writing as a step on their path to healing and to offer support to others. Some who write about troubled parts of their…

Guest Blogger Susan Hagen: Birthdays, cupcakes, and healing through writing

| mcullen

Note from Marlene: Guest Blogger Susan Hagen encourages us to have fun. And shows us how we can heal through writing . . . one of my strong beliefs, also. I hope you enjoy Susan’s post: To celebrate our 62nd birthdays, my best friend and I recently spent the weekend in Disneyland. Despite creaky knees and stiff backs, we were ready to party like … well, like eight-year-olds. We had great fun on the (not-too-wild) rides and enjoyed being playful and somewhat silly. But in that space of awareness about our childhoods, what arose in both of us were memories of disappointing birthdays of the past. It’s never too late to have that birthday cupcake. For me, it was 1963, the year I turned eight. My mother was supposed to bring chocolate cupcakes to my third-grade class at the end of the school day. But a few days before my birthday, President…

The Healing Power of Images Prompt #139

| mcullen

Today’s prompt is inspired from Poetic Medicine by John Fox, “The Healing Power of Images.” “A morning glory at my window satisfies me more than the metaphysics of books” — Walt Whitman “Images are drawn from sensory experience and help us to feel what the writer or speaker is communicating. Whitman is more satisfied by the morning glory because it is real and alive, it communicates something to him about reality that is particular, clean and unmistakable. Images offer us direct experience. They can show themselves to us through any of the senses.” Think about the house you grew up in, or where you spent most of your childhood. Or, if you want to write from your fictional character’s point of view. . . picture a place where the protagonist spends a lot of  time. Now, think about routes you routinely took . . . to school. . . or…

The “5 Whys” . . . Prompt #844

| mcullen

Prompt One Make a list of five physical / tangible things you want to own or have. In your wildest dreams, what are five material things you want? Prompt Two Make a brief list of five changes you would like to make. Could be emotional, health, financial, or personal. Be specific. For example: Emotional: Change attitude or feelings that don’t serve you. Is there something you are having a hard time letting go? List that, or those, if there are more than one. Rather than good health: Lose weight, change eating habits, drink more water, etc. Rather than exercise: Be specific about types of movement, etc. Rather than the broad category of “financial,” consider: Freedom from present money worries, wanting future financial security, etc. In your wildest dreams, what are five personal things you want? Prompt ThreeFrom Facebook post by Interesting World, April 24, 2025: Sometimes, the real reason for…

Imagine

| mcullen

An inspiring message from Gurdeep Pandher The human mind tends to focus on painful memories while letting positive ones fade. These distressing memories become our heaviest burden, causing ongoing emotional pain. How much of our past can we carry with us through life’s journey? This is a profound question that affects everyone in different ways. The past resides within our memories like a vast collection of stories, each one leaving its unique impression upon our consciousness. These memories manifest in various forms — from the radiantly joyful moments that warm our hearts, to the mundane yet comfortable memories of everyday life, to the deeply sorrowful experiences, and finally to those truly tormenting recollections that seem to pierce our very soul. When we carry these memories forward naturally, allowing them to exist without judgment, it should theoretically be manageable. However, human nature often leads us down a different path. We tend…

A Place in the Sun

| mcullen

Memorable writing that sparks imagination. Lean in. Hear the writer’s voice on the page. A Place in the Sun By CM Riddle I often find myself writing about the past. It’s easy to remember and type the facts. But today I am writing about the future. Instead of facts, I’ll define the future and bring it into reality. My vision of the future is inspired by a song from the past. Tuning to Spotify I hear Stevie Wonder belt, “There’s a place in the sun where there’s room for everyone, gonna find me a place in the sun.” The lyrical line weaves its way through my thoughts and soon I imagine the most amazing place. A place without pain or suffering. A place filled with hope and everyday joy. That’s where I want to be.  Suddenly an esoteric feeling hits deep within my bones. Not knowing if I will live…

Dancing Through Life

| mcullen

Memorable writing that sparks imagination. Lean in. Hear the writer’s voice on the page. Dancing Through Life By Diane Dupuis Dancing can transport you as you get lost in the music and lyrics, simply connecting with the beat, and potentially learning how truly magnificent our bodies are. We are all born to dance. Look at children. They dance in their seats long before they can walk. They don’t even need music. Unfortunately, as we grow, we learn to be self-conscious or feel “not good enough.” Many people stop dancing when the joy is gone, and all they feel is pressure. Added to that is the pressure of having the “perfect” form and the “perfect” dancer body.   Some dance classes can add the stress of competition or feeling the need to fit in. Many studies have highlighted the amazing health benefits of dancing. Not only is it good for your heart…