HEALING BEGINS BY NAMING WHAT HURTS

Don't rush forgiveness. Honor the wound first.

Photo by Sincerely Media on Unsplash

Healing often asks us to do something we want to skip: acknowledge what actually hurts.

Last year I wrote a short article called Compassion Starts with Yourself, which I shared in my August 2025 enewsletter.

At the time, I remember questioning my perspective and wondering if it might seem too self-centered. Recently, I read an article by Kira Buckley titled Name Your Disappointments that reflected the same truth back to me in a way that deeply resonated:

“Sometimes we move so quickly toward acceptance that we abandon the part of ourselves still standing at the scene, stunned by what happened. Are we supposed to forgive before we’ve even named the injury? Do we surrender before we’ve named what was taken?”

In her article, referring to some of her experiences surrounding the loss of her grandmother, the author explains the importance of acknowledging how you feel before moving forward to compassion and forgiveness. She suggests writing a "Name Your Disappointments" list as part of the healing and releasing process. She also refers to a scene from the 2026 movie The Odyssey as an example of rushing through or skipping necessary steps in the grieving process. Good read (please see the article link under References).

I believe this point bears repeating. There's so much going on in our lives that calls us to be compassionate and forgiving. It starts with giving ourselves a break!

Is there something in your life you need to acknowledge and process before you can offer compassion and forgiveness? Share in the comments :)

Gisele Marasca-Vargas; 07/2926

thehealershome.com

References:

Name Your Disappointments, by Kira Buckley on Substack

Compassion Starts with Yourself, by Gisele Marasca