Recognizing Healing vs. Brokenness
- @wellnthriving
- Apr 12
- 4 min read
Updated: May 5
Welcome to this space, created for the soul-seeker, the tender heart, and anyone who’s waking up to something deeper within themselves. If you've found your way here, chances are, you're in the midst of a transformation. Perhaps it feels chaotic, heavy, or even like you're falling apart. But here’s the truth you need to hold close: you’re not broken. You’re healing.
Healing often feels messy—not because it’s wrong, but because it’s real. Real healing isn’t about erasing the hard stuff; it’s about creating space for it to rise, be felt, and ultimately transform you.
This post will guide you in recognizing the difference between brokenness and healing, exploring the signs, and offering gentle steps to support yourself on this sacred healing-journey.
What Is a Healing-Journey, and Why Does It Feel Hard?
The term “healing” often conjures images of serenity, light, and calm. Yet, for many, healing feels the opposite—it’s uncomfortable, raw, and deeply emotional. Why? Because the process isn’t about avoiding pain; it’s about facing it. To heal is to feel, to excavate hidden layers of yourself, and to ultimately grow into a more aligned version of who you are.
Healing asks you to grieve, unlearn, and release. It invites you to dismantle identities that no longer serve you while learning to live life from your most authentic self. While that transformation is beautiful, it also requires surrendering to the discomfort of growth.
Here’s What Healing Might Look Like
Although healing is unique to each person, there are some common signs that indicate you’re on this powerful path—even when it doesn’t feel “good” or graceful.
You’re Feeling More, Not Less
Tears seem to flow more easily. You feel overwhelmed by emotions that appear out of nowhere. This is not a sign of weakness. It’s your body releasing years’ worth of emotions it had once locked tightly away. Feeling deeply means you’re creating a safe space within yourself to finally process what’s been suppressed.
You’re Recognizing Emotional Triggers
The things that used to set you off still pop up, but this time, you’re noticing them before reacting. You’re pausing, reflecting, and practicing a healthier response. This level of self-awareness is a major milestone on your growth-opportunities path.
You’re Craving Rest and Solitude
Maybe you need more sleep or find yourself pulling back from social circles. Your nervous system is recalibrating, and your soul is integrating its lessons. Rest is not laziness; it’s sacred.
Old Wounds Are Resurfacing
Memories from childhood, past relationships, or outdated patterns might unexpectedly bubble up. This isn’t regression; it’s your psyche preparing to heal these wounds on a deeper level.
You’re Breaking Free from What No Longer Fits
Whether it’s friendships, habits, or limiting beliefs, you’re letting go of the things that no longer align with your higher self. Shedding these layers isn’t failure; it’s freedom.
Tools for Self-Discovery Are Calling to You
You’ve started journaling, trying therapy, exploring shadow work, or researching breathwork. This draw toward spiritual-awakening tools signals that your inner healer is waking up.
You Feel Lost but Keep Showing Up
Some days, the clarity isn’t there. Yet, you keep going. You’re reading, reflecting, and sitting with the unknown. This resilience is where true transformation thrives.
Healing vs. Brokenness
One of the greatest challenges on this path is shifting your mindset. We often equate discomfort with brokenness, but healing teaches us a new lens through which to see ourselves.
Brokenness says: "Something is wrong with me."
Healing says: "Something within me is asking to be seen, loved, and transformed."
This reframe is crucial. While brokenness feels final, healing is active. It’s an invitation to participate fully in your growth, acknowledging the beauty of becoming rather than focusing on the fear of being incomplete.
Gentle Self-Care during the Healing Process
Healing requires tenderness. Here are gentle yet impactful ways to nurture yourself through the messy middle moments of this process.
Name Your Feelings Without Judgment
Instead of labeling emotions as “good” or “bad,” simply hold space for them. Use affirmations like, “What I feel is valid and temporary.”
Release Any Timelines or “Shoulds”
Healing has no expiration date. You are on your unique timeline, and there’s no “right” speed for growth.
Create a Daily Grounding Ritual
Even five minutes of grounding (whether through breathwork, meditation, or connecting with nature) can work wonders for your nervous system.
Talk to Your Inner Child
Your inner child carries wounds that often surface during your healing-journey. Gently reassure this part of you by saying things like, “I see you. I hear you. I’m here for you.”
Rest, and Then Rest Some More
It’s okay to do less while you’re healing. Rest allows your mind and body to integrate profound emotional and spiritual shifts.
Growth-Opportunities from the Shadows of Healing
Yes, healing can feel shadowy at times. But within those shadows lies the opportunity for profound spiritual-awakening. It’s the space where you rediscover your strength, redefine your worth, and emerge as a more radiant, authentic version of you.
By moving toward the discomfort rather than avoiding it, you open yourself to the remarkable growth available on the other side. Remember, you’re not just healing your past; you’re transforming your future.
A Final Reflection
If you’re beginning to notice your emotional-triggers, feel deeper than before, or sense that an unspoken shift is underway, you’re likely in the thick of your healing-journey. And while it might not feel easy, it’s sacred, necessary work.
Remember this truth wherever you are today:
If you’re feeling, you’re healing.
If you’re noticing, you’re growing.
If you’re seeking, you’re already transforming.
Healing doesn’t mean you’re breaking apart; it means you’re breaking open into who you were always meant to be. Be gentle with yourself in this sacred process.
