Healing is a Journey

As an ancient philosopher said, “a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”

But what happens when you start to crap out at mile-post 10?

And how do you get the mental strength to go on for the next 990 miles?

Western medicine directs us to look outside ourselves for help.

If you’re dealing with a chronic condition, you have probably considered, or more likely, exhausted all the usual external resources; drugs, surgery, teeth-clenching physical therapy and doctors who tell you ‘there’s nothing more I can do. Learn to cope.’

Sometimes these external methods work. All too often they don’t.

I found out the hard way that true deep healing comes from within.

Years ago, I broke my neck and back and was paralyzed from the neck down. Following the advice of my Qigong Master, I spent the first year in a hot tub visualizing movement and the next six years painstakingly re-learning how to move again.

People ask me how did I find the mental strength, the willpower, the stamina to keep going.

The toughness it took to keep on going came from three things.

1. Hope. I had a spiritual experience in the E.R. It was a calm “Knowing” that I could be okay again. That “Knowing” was my guiding light. I knew that my body had the innate wisdom to heal. Somehow…

2. A road map for the journey. I found that hope was necessary, but it was not enough. I knew I had to actively participate in some way. I was fortunate to have learned Qigong, an ancient healing art, as a youngster. And that art gave me the blueprint I needed.

3. Taking the first step. My inner Knowing was not a constant beacon. I would frequently fall into despair and self-doubt.

When that happened, I sought out the Knowing and start my journey all over again. I discovered that each step was the first step. I had only enough courage to keep taking just that one first step over and over again.

Anyone who has a major healing journey ahead of them – look to the core of your being and find the place where you Know. We all have it. That is where your mental strength comes from. Listen to your intuition. And be willing to take just that one step- as many times as it takes.

Health and Happiness!

Joe Pinella