Love to Hurt

When love is applied to hurt, we heal is what sets Spiritual Psychology apart from the rest. In conventional Psychology, they believe that healing takes place when subconscious issues are brought to the surface. This is partially correct. Spiritual Psychology takes it a step further by applying love to that part of you that went through the difficult situation.

According to Gestalt Therapy, when a traumatic experience takes place and we fail to process through it properly, a portion of us gets emotionally stuck, or “fixated” at that moment of time. This “unfinished business” then needs to be addressed in order to complete what is unfinished. Spiritual Psychology swoops in on this process through the application of love.

At the Mental Health Urgent Care center where I saw over 7,000 in my 11 years stint there, the Psychiatrist always commented, “There goes Scott, doing his love therapy.” Soon the entire staff began making fun of how I conducted treatment. In the end, they were all doing it because it worked.

When a person goes through a shock, it is frightening. What do people normally do at that time? Normally they will talk to a parent or a close friend. What if it was the parent that shocked them? Then the person may feel they have no outlet, that nobody cares, and will hold their feelings inside. Thus creating unfinished business.

It is exciting for our staff to present this model and share tools in which to interact with the younger part of a person that went through difficulty. Yes, it may sound weird to interact with a part inside, but actually, that is our way of treating the difficulties from the past. No, the problem doesn’t go away on its own. Our mind is too complex to let go of something that is so impactful. In fact, when under stress, the mind will revert to ancient wounds, get stuck there, and suddenly we are acting like two-year-old brats! “I want.”

It takes a real commitment to healing early childhood wounds but without treatment, you are looking at reverting constantly to a younger age stage. The effort however becomes an art form, fun, and eye-opening.

Dunking your toe into the shallow end of the pool doesn’t help. Wade on in and put on your floaties. To start, use a pillow and imagine that is the younger you. Apply love to the pillow by hugging and kissing it. Tell the baby you how much you care. Read a children’s book to it at bedtime. Silly? Of course. Effective? Absolutely.

How are you, with you? If there is no love from yourself to yourself nobody else will. If your relationship within is poor, you have a decision to make. Take the high road and befriend yourself, or the low road and continually beat yourself up. The real issue in life is how you are with yourself.

Let’s pretend that you decide to care for you. What would you do differently? Since Spiritual Psychology addresses problems physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually, how would you address yourself on each?

To improve physically what would you do differently? Eat better? Exercise more? Get much better sleep? How’s about seeing your doctor or dentist regularly too?

Mentally, loving thoughts towards yourself and others is a great start. Mother Theresa said, “If you judge people, you don’t have time to love them.” Here’s a clue – when you judge people, you are really seeing yourself in them.

Emotionally, send love to your innermost self. Write out loving notes and place them around your home. I went to one seminar in which we married ourselves. I literally had to get down on one knee and state my vows. It was amazing.

I was taught to love others with the exclusion of loving myself. Why? Are we not worthy of our own love? How can you love someone if you don’t love you? You can’t give away what you don’t have. It’s okay to be kind and gentle to yourself. It is not selfish unless it is only you, you love. It is an inside-out process, meaning, love yourself first and after doing so give love to others.

Lastly Spiritually. Visualize success. Forgive yourself for past deeds. Pray. Share joy.

We are in a world that is sick right now. Love it! When love is applied to hurt, we heal. Fearing yourself and others only keeps us down. Wouldn’t you agree that the world needs a good dose of healing? Please do your part by applying love to your hurt, in doing so others will heal with you.  

Compassionate Care is Always Available

There are many more tools and strategies you can use in your pursuit of happiness. Here is where we come in. Contact us at Basic Steps Mental Health and let us support and educate you on this journey back to your loving heart center. Imagine living a heart-centered life, regardless of what is happening externally. We’d love to be of help.

For 25 years, Dr. Scott Alpert, the clinical director of Basic Steps Mental Health, has treated over 7,000 people with mental health and addiction problems, using a Psychological approach that mixes and matches ten of the top approaches used in the industry.  We are here virtually and in-person to help you get through this COVID-19 pandemic and many other difficulties you may be experiencing.

May you have good mental health.