important to realize that this pain is something that needs to be acknowledged and processed.

The longer you hold onto that pain, the harder it is to work through it. There will come a time when you will be forced to acknowledge it. This old pain makes itself known to you in ways you can’t predict. Rather than waiting for this to happen, you can empower yourself by identifying the pain and resolving to take action toward healing it.

The very thought of this brings up feelings of resistance, especially if, on the surface, your life seems to be in order. It’s difficult to dig up the past and go into it unless you are being seriously inconvenienced by the hurt.

The thing is, when you are carrying the burden of your unprocessed pain, sooner or later, it will surface. Very often this presents itself in ways that can hinder you. If you can be strong and proactive, you can save yourself a lot of future suffering and free up the energy that is tied up in keeping the pain down. Let’s step into that.

The First Steps

There are many ways to do this, but the first step is to recognize the pain and honor it by moving your awareness into it. In this process, even if it’s just five minutes during meditation, you will begin to have a sense of what the pain is made of. This is the time to be totally honest with yourself. Move through all those excuses or stories you’ve built up around this hurt. Go deep into the pain and look for the experience that started it all.

It might be fear of abandonment, childhood abuse, anger at being mistreated, or some other long held wound. Many times you have attached feelings of self-doubt or unworthiness to the old hurt. Explore those feelings to discover the incident where they started. This may bring up painful times you would rather ignore, but realize that that is not going to allow you to be free of that pain. Whatever it is, it’s time to heal by releasing that hurt.

As you sit with the pain, you will also have a sense of whether you can deal with it by yourself, or not. Talking this out with a trusted friend or coach could bring to light perspectives you may not recognize on your own. A person who is not attached to that hurt can offer insights and new ways of seeing it all. Many times, just the act of speaking it out loud can open the door to moving through it.

Releasing the Hurt

Resolve to go deep into the pain, so that you can release it fully, and set yourself free. Release the hold that hurt has on you. Is it really doing you any good to hold onto that pain? You are NOT defined by that. Allowing this hurt to govern how you live your life does not serve you in any way. Most importantly, let go of the story you’ve told and retold that makes you a victim of that pain and hurt.

To release this hurt, forgive yourself or anyone else whom you hold responsible. Forgiveness is the key to letting those feelings go once and for all. Chances are anyone else you hold responsible for the hurt and pain has no clue you even feel this way. They have gone on with their lives. It’s time you do too.
Once you have let go of that hurt, fill the resulting empty space with unconditional love. Yes, I said love. Love and acceptance open up the path for positive growth in your life.

One way to fill that space with unconditional love is through a quick, easy form of meditation that can be done anywhere, anytime. While doing this, think of waves rolling up on the shore and receding back into the ocean. Place your hand on your heart and send out waves of love to everyone around you. Imagine sending love out as the water recedes. Then imagine everyone sending YOU their love as the waves come rolling back in. Do this a few times until you feel energized with all the love flowing in and out of you.

Can you feel it? Bask in the glow of acceptance and compassion. This technique can be also be used anytime you feel yourself becoming uptight, nervous or upset. It’s impossible to feel anger, frustration or nervousness when you are focusing on love. This easy technique can support you in keeping your balance when life events occur. Be proactive, not reactive.

Remember, it is never too late in life to heal what hurts, and there is never a better time than now. Take charge of your emotions and the way they affect your life. Make a conscious decision to release the burdens you’ve been carrying around all these years. Let them be carried away like wisps in the wind. They are not your friends!

Author's Bio: 

Val Wilcox is a Speaker, Author and Life Coach who specializes in Empowering Your Life’s Dreams. Her passion lies in helping people discover their Dreams and navigate the transitions of Life’s interesting challenges. Success has many faces and looks different to each and every one of us. Discovering your Life’s Dreams unlocks the key to a better life.

With more than 10 years of experience in Personal Leadership Development Training, Val brings a wealth of practical knowledge and experience to her coaching.

Val’s gift today is an EBook designed to start you on your journey of discovery. It’s called Change Your Mindset…Change Your Life. Is Your Life Everything You Thought It Should Be? Discover The Secrets To Creating A Spectacular Life. Learn How Simple Changes To Your Thought Patterns Can Empower You. Live a Life Filled With Endless Possibilities.

Visit Val Wilcox.com – Empower Your Life at: http://www.valwilcox.com today.