For Your Better Life

In part one of “Wounds to Gold” we spoke about where you have been wounded and have healed can be where you have the most to offer.

It Takes Courage to Reveal Your Wounds

People need to reveal and deal with uncomfortable and painful situations in order to heal. When someone has revealed and worked with his or her wounds it takes courage. The application of heart and courage deepens what we learn and what we have to offer to others.

Being wounded coming out of childhood is pretty common. Chances are other people have had similar wounds. So, your personal healing gives you more to offer them.

“Pain nourishes courage. You can’t be brave if you’ve only had wonderful things happen to you.”
-Mary Tyler Moore

For example, I have a friend who went through a painful and destructive divorce and came out of the divorce a financial mess. Her life’s work now is helping people heading for divorce organize and manage their finances.

She helps them manage the powerful emotions and challenges so that they come out of the situation with a fair and reasonable arrangement.

In the movie, “Leap of Faith” Steve Martin plays a preacher and in confronted in front of his congregation. Someone points that he has made mistakes and sinned and then they say his congregation should not listen to him because of this.

The preacher admits that he has sinned and then shares that he is more valuable to his congregation because he has sinned and therefore he is in a better position to help them.

Because he has been vulnerable and made similar mistakes he is able to relate to their pain and be more useful in supporting them through difficult times.

“Be willing to be vulnerable to heal your past. You can transform your wounds into riches.”

Heal Your Wounds and Deliver your Gifts

When you are reminded of an unhealed place take it as an invitation to heal. Healing and completing the past will not only free up your energy it may reveal new directions as well as gifts that you can develop and deliver.

Healing can help you to have a sense of completion with the past and also will help you to reconnect with your energy and vitality.

I encourage you to turn your wounds to gold as your develop and deliver your gifts.

It the book Enjoy The Hell Out Of Your Life I talk about each of us being a gift delivery system. We each have gifts and talents that are unique to us and when we develop and share (deliver them) we find great satisfaction and happiness. These gifts many times are in areas where we can make major contributions.

Our gifts often come from our strengths. When we develop our strengths and utilize our talents we often gain the most and are the most effective.

Wounds Can Help Develop Strength

Sometimes our strengths are developed in response to our wounds. These can be places where we did not get what we wanted or needed as well as actual physical wounds and limitations.

Robert Bly said that when you have the courage to bring your wound to the light of day it will turn to gold. He is known for editing the Grimm brother’s fairy tales that illustrate this phenomenon.

When we apply our life force energy to an area where we have been challenged or wounded it can activate dormant abilities. These abilities along with our experience and insight enable us to help others more effectively.

A good example is Candice Lighter whose daughter was killed by a drunk driver. From this painful experience she started the organization MADD: Mothers Against Drunk Driving This organization has helped hundreds of thousands of people.

Overcome Wounds

When we overcome our wounds and setbacks we have the most to offer. Specifically in areas where we were hurt or held back or abused in some way.

Where one has been wounded one becomes stronger after it is healed than it was before the wound. This is just like in our bodies, when we have a cut the scar tissue that forms is stronger than the tissue was before the cut or wound. Also a bone that has been broken will be stronger than before the break.

Be courageous and turn your wounds to gold.