Embracing Wholeness: A Journey of a Lifetime

I often ask myself if it is just me or are there others like me who struggle for wholeness more often than not.

From what I see around, it’s not something that men usually grapple with, Many women, on the other hand, find themselves going to pieces, forever being pulled into multiple directions constantly fighting the inner demons and often struggle to feel that they are more than a sum total of the parts.

Why does that happen?

Perhaps, this stems from the fact that early on in our lives, we are taught that other people influence our wholeness and that people’s opinions and expectations of us are very important.

It takes time to recognise how wilfully we succumb to such faulty thought patterns and how we need to pull out from there to bring the focus back on ourselves and acknowledge the fact that we are whole, each one of us, in unique ways.

Questioning “shoulds” and “musts,” can be a good starting point for anybody wanting to break the harmful patterns and behaviours that block the path to wholeness.

Recognizing and accepting all parts of oneself, including those that might be seen as imperfect or challenging, is a key step in this process. We begin by treating ourself with kindness and understanding, especially during the initial phases which might bring our challenging and tough moments that one might struggle with.

I’ve personally been through this journey and I still work very hard to ensure I’m spending time to reflect and reconnect with myself from time to time. I do this by prioritising physical health, emotional regulation, and engaging in activities that promote joy and relaxation. Mindfulness is a great way to keep the focus on the things that matter the most.

For some, this sense of wholeness could come from family, friends and community. For others, it could be through spiritual practices or beliefs. I’ve found being on the mindful journey worked best for me. I guess all of these are ways to help us reach our common goal, all being equally beneficial.

If you’re pondering where or when to start, let me tell you any day is a good day to begin.

Of the many things I’ve discovered along the way, one crucial discovery for me that I’d love to share with you all has been self love.

For me, it’s been the driving factor that’s allowed me to experience self-awareness, help integrate all the parts of myself- the good, the bad and the ugly- and work towards a sense of completeness and harmony.

Work in progress I still am, and some days the struggle is more but, it’s a beautiful journey and totally worth it.

As I practice ‘being’ me through each new phase of life, I realise that every day is a new experience and the learning never really stops.

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Joining Vinitha for her #FictionMonday prompt — ‘Whole’ with this non-fiction piece.