This landed in my body as much as in my mind. I’ve been on the receiving end of those phrases — offered at moments when I was already raw — and I recognise that quiet confusion of thinking something is wrong with me for still hurting. What you name here helped me see that it wasn’t a failure of faith or maturity; it was my pain being met with ideology instead of presence.
The section on disembodiment feels especially true to my experience. I learned, very early, to override the signals in my body — to tighten, quiet, comply — and to mistrust what I was feeling if it didn’t match the spiritual ideal I was meant to perform. Reading this, I could feel how much damage that does over time.
I’m grateful for the care in this piece — the permission to pause, to skip, to go at our own pace. That gentleness is exactly what was missing in the environments you’re describing, and it matters more than you might realise. Thank you for naming this so clearly, and for writing in a way that honours the reality of those who have lived it.
Thank you, Nat, for naming your experience, sharing your story, and for having the courage to show up for yourself. I have held the value of offering myself and others "quality of presence" - slowing, taking the time, and attempting to offer a non-anxious, non-hurried presence.
Healing is always possible, you are living proof of that :)
yes thank you for this. it really breaks my heart that so many people in the new age community are spiritually bypassing themselves and others. I see this within myself too. If we are to act in a loving way, i doubt that this is the way forward.
This landed in my body as much as in my mind. I’ve been on the receiving end of those phrases — offered at moments when I was already raw — and I recognise that quiet confusion of thinking something is wrong with me for still hurting. What you name here helped me see that it wasn’t a failure of faith or maturity; it was my pain being met with ideology instead of presence.
The section on disembodiment feels especially true to my experience. I learned, very early, to override the signals in my body — to tighten, quiet, comply — and to mistrust what I was feeling if it didn’t match the spiritual ideal I was meant to perform. Reading this, I could feel how much damage that does over time.
I’m grateful for the care in this piece — the permission to pause, to skip, to go at our own pace. That gentleness is exactly what was missing in the environments you’re describing, and it matters more than you might realise. Thank you for naming this so clearly, and for writing in a way that honours the reality of those who have lived it.
Thank you, Nat, for naming your experience, sharing your story, and for having the courage to show up for yourself. I have held the value of offering myself and others "quality of presence" - slowing, taking the time, and attempting to offer a non-anxious, non-hurried presence.
Healing is always possible, you are living proof of that :)
Just bookmarked this for later!
yes thank you for this. it really breaks my heart that so many people in the new age community are spiritually bypassing themselves and others. I see this within myself too. If we are to act in a loving way, i doubt that this is the way forward.