Journey to Authenticity

Stepping over Our Wounds

Sometimes we have to “step over” our anger, our jealousy, or our feelings of rejection and move on. The temptation is to get stuck in our negative emotions, poking around in them as if we belong there. Then we become the “offended one,” “the forgotten one,” or the “discarded one.” Yes, we can get attached to these negative identities and even take morbid pleasure in them. It might be good to have a look at these dark feelings and explore where they come from, but there comes a moment to step over them, leave them behind and travel on.  Henri Nouwen “Bread for the Journey”

I am not an advocate of stuffing feelings however I think Nouwen speaks to core distinction that needs to be evaluated. And that is have our wounds become our identity and if that’s the case it’s not healthy.  I am constantly  advocating for being careful with labels we give or are given. There is a lot of value in saying I am person who struggles with anxiety versus I am an anxious person. The first one leaves room for change the other attaches it to identity.