When life feels like it is a constant challenge or you’re simply having one of those tough days, it’s important to be able to find some peace within the turmoil. You need to find the sanctuary in your soul.
“When you lose touch with inner stillness, you lose touch with yourself. When you lose touch with yourself, you lose yourself in the world.” Eckhart Tolle
Our body and mind can deal with the practicalities of life, but the powerful depths of healing can only be encompassed through the soul. We may think similar thoughts or behave in the same ways but it is our soul that makes us unique. And only you can reach it.
Acquiring relief in things like alcohol, food, drugs may provide a temporary solution but learning to find that contentment inside yourself can help you manage even the most difficult dilemmas.
“When we feel whole in ourselves there is no need or desire to present ourselves as anything other than simply being” ~ Catherine Ingram
During my dark days of depression and alcoholism, I had been taken to breaking point both physically and mentally. Recovery was going to be huge. I was battered outside and inside, but my soul was completely shattered.With a whisper of hope and a speck of faith I fought to pick up the pieces and gently began the restoration that was to set me on the path to peace.
Initially the renewing of my soul came through love, which came through faith. It came through learning to find not only a physical peace but a mental tranquility. It came through accepting the past and living in the present. And while my soul healed so grew the gentle force of self-belief.
“We may get knocked down on the outside, but the key to living in victory is to learn how to get up on the inside.” ~Joel Osteen.
As my spirit became strong I learnt to have confidence in my intuition. Anyone who has been abused develops a sixth sense as to what is right or wrong, who to trust and who to doubt. Yet the impact of abuse can overwhelm your natural instincts, leaving you mistrusting even your basic feelings. When you start to heal emotionally, you can choose to reclaim your gift of discernment.
I was reminded of this only last week, when I was asked to do something for someone I knew only a social media site. A little alarm bell had rung initially and I responded with caution. Their retaliation was plain nasty when I was unable to meet their request.
In the past I would have been filled with self-doubt and blamed myself for not being good enough. But now I know how to find the sanctuary in my soul I was able to step back, take a deep breath and see the situation for what it was. It was an issue for the other person and not for me. Calm and reassured by being able to rest in my inner refuge I could let it go in perfect peace. And also with a sense of gratitude to that person for reminding me just how far I had come.
“If there is light in the soul, there will be beauty in the person. ” Chinese Proverb.
Whilst your soul is a place of safety and restoration it can also be a wonderful place of energy and light. Just as our body and mind needs to be healthy, so does our soul. Learn to nurture it and treat it well. Then enjoy the illumination of your soul as it sheds light over the shadows in your life. And reveal the desires of your soul through vitality and passion.
Whether it is serenity or energy that you seek, may you find it in abundance within the sanctuary of your soul.
Images thanks to the wonderful talent of Jen Garcia at Etsy.com http://www.etsy.com/shop/xXSnapDragon
The Hurt Healer 
Dear Carolyn:
Your courageous words will help many you will never even meet~
God Bless you for sharing it.
Thank you for your loving words.
“It was an issue for the other person and not for me.”
I loved this part. It is so true that once you get on a stable footing you realize that many times another person’s anger at someting is often their own problem with themselves. When you can take a step back you can evaluate the situation and see if the anger of the person is justified or not and if you need to make amends, oftentimes it isn’t.
That isn’t a task that is easy to do when you are hurting inside and are not strong because you take on what the other person is giving you. You take on their anger. It isn’t a fun thing. I use to do it all the time and then turn it inward at myself. No fun.
Thanks for the post.
Thank you Sebastian for sharing your insight about anger. Stepping back from a situation and getting a different perspective on a situation is important if you are caught up in those feelings of anger and resentment. And I couldn’t agree more that taking on someone else’s anger is no fun at all and it serves no other purpose than to make it worse for yourself.
Thanks for another much needed reminder Carolyn.
Thank you for visiting Lynne. Great to see you here.xo
Good post
Thank you!
Beautiful inspiration
Thank you Celestine 🙂
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Thank you for the link 🙂
“If there is light in the soul, there will be beauty in the person. ” Chinese Proverb. I love this.. I think we all struggle with self doubt and hate! Thank you for sharing this Carolyn..
Thank you for your kind comments Elizabeth 🙂
Such an inspiring post! Your inner beauty always shines through. You are a wonderful example to so many! Thank you!
You are very kind Martha!
Hi Carolyn, I don’t like to think of you having had a nasty response like that from someone. How you responded though really shows how deep the strength is that you now have. It is so easy to blame ourselves and lose perspective, even if we haven’t had crushing self-esteem problems. Sending a special online hug to you. 🙂
Thank you for your kind comments Ruth. Unfortunately not everyone is as lovely as you are 🙂
Ah, the soul, that inner bastion that can see beyond the everyday and deeper than our surface issues. Lovely article, Carolyn, as always sharing hard-learned lessons.
I always appreciate the wisdom of your comments Sharon. Thank you!
Yet another wonderful post, Carolyn. Guess what I have to look forward to today? A piece I ordered from Jen Garcia is scheduled to arrive and I’m so excited!
That’s fantastic Shari! 🙂
This is utterly beautiful Carolyn and so, so true! Love your blog, so encouraging! X
Thank you 🙂
Sweet and really inspiring !
be happy always 🙂
Thank you for visiting and for your lovely comments. Heading over to your passion-filled blog now! 🙂
It is so wonderful you were able to guard against allowing someone’s nasty retaliations and accept that it was their problem and not yours.
Very true Pat. Thank you!
Such a beautiful and inspirational post, Carolyn…and the images are so fabulous and really suit your incredibly touching and heartfelt words…
Thank you Sherie! The images are from the talented Jen Garcia at http://www.etsy.com/shop/xXSnapDragon.
I understand completely the concept of losing oneself in the world. You truly have come far, Carolyn, and what a lovely thing, don’t you think?
I once had a dream in which peace was being emoted from Divine hands. I cannot put into words the feeling of that peace, only that it was beyond anything I had experienced in the world…truly a peace that surpasses all understanding. I’ve come to realize that this beautiful being of love was giving me peace, allowing me to experience the feeling of it in all its glory. Magnificent!
A beautiful post, Carolyn…a true inspiration.
Blessings for abundant peace,
Marianne xo
That’s an amazing share Marianne. Thank you! It describes that feeling of peace perfectly, especially as if you’ve never experienced that sense of reassurance it is very hard to understand. Your dream gives an excellent description. Blessings to you too my lovely friend 🙂
Great post Carolyn – it’s so important to trust your intuition and really know that you are OK. I really appreciate your sharing of where you’ve come from and the strength you share now – you are an amazing inspiration.
Thank you Moira! Your comments really encourage me!
That is so awesome that you have went from being so fragile and unable to feel ok with yourself when someone made you feel bad to having peace within yourself to stay strong and stand your ground! Props to you! I love your articles!
It was a good feeling Dani! Thank you for your encouragement and support!
Of course! Anytime! I motivate my high school students all day and try to boost their self esteem:) This is something I love to do:)
🙂
I’m going through some struggles right now. Although the challenges themselves are coming from people around me, I know that I wouldn’t be feeling the tension if I would just perceive these challenges differently and handle them differently. Eventually I get the hang of it.
Thank you for sharing Glynis. I know that I can relate to what you say here and I’m sure others will too. We can’t control others but we can learn to perceive things differently and help to diffuse the tension.
Thanks for reminding us that it is possible to come to terms with difficult matters and be at at peace. My mother is 92 and dementia is setting in.
Sorry to hear that Barbara. That is such a difficult disease to come to terms with for everyone one involved. Take care. x
So beautiful, Carolyn. I especially liked this part given my own experiences with the abuse that comes with living/loving an alcoholic or alcohol abuser without any understanding of the disease/condition, “As my spirit became strong I learnt to have confidence in my intuition. Anyone who has been abused develops a sixth sense as to what is right or wrong, who to trust and who to doubt. Yet the impact of abuse can overwhelm your natural instincts, leaving you mistrusting even your basic feelings. When you start to heal emotionally, you can choose to reclaim your gift of discernment.” Thanks for another thought-provoking, soul-healing post!
Your own story of survival Lisa shows how you have come full circle in trusting your intuition. It’s amazing how someone else can have power over us and make us feel that we are in the wrong even though the problem is theirs and we are in the right. Thank you for all your support!
Great job digging yourself out and standing tall. Great Post
Thank you for your comments and support Tom.
I am spending an hour a day at least working on this. I went through such a horrific year in 2012…its good to look after #1 🙂
That really is a good idea Anita, especially after having such a challenging year. Take care. x
What a beautiful post Carolyn! After many years of hurt I am still trying to make peace with myself, in spite of having been in a loving relationship for almost six years now. The legacy of my past is too much alcohol and regular nightmares, and I don’t know how to control either just yet.
I know I’ll learn, I just don’t know when or how.
You will learn, I am sure of that. Just look at how far you have come already. It’s never too late to change the legacy of your past. Keep strong and keep learning to love yourself. xo
Carolyn yours is an inspiring story of your journey out of the depths of despair. Thank you for sharing.
Coming from such a strong woman as yourself Meryl, that really is a touching compliment. Thank you.
Carolyn, I love your blog and this post is especially touching. Thanks for sharing. ♥
Thank you for you kind words and support.xo
“We may get knocked down on the outside, but the key to living in victory is to learn how to get up on the inside.” ~Joel Osteen. Says it all… Thanks Carolyn!
Doesn’t it just Norma! 🙂
Love this line – “learning to find that contentment inside yourself can help you manage even the most difficult dilemmas.” We do look outside ourselves for the answers, when of often it can be found by looking within. Appreciate your beautiful post, Carolyn!
I agree with you Cathy. So often we have the answers within but we have grown used to look to outside in the hope that it will somehow be easier. Thank you for your comments.
Awesome ideas! Thank you for sharing!
Thank you for visiting MarVeena 🙂
This is beautiful, thank you. And thank you for the link to Jen’s work–I love it!
Thanks! Jen’s work is lovely isn’t it? 🙂
This post is so inspirational, Carolyn. Thank you for sharing.
That is so kind of you 🙂
I love what you say about what our mind can handle and what our soul actually processes and heals. Beautiful distinction. This is wonderful. thank you.
Thank Kimblerly for your kind comments and support. xo
“We may get knocked down on the outside, but the key to living in victory is to learn how to get up on the inside.” ~Joel Osteen.
beautiful quote and a beautiful post. Thank you!
Thank you Gina for visiting and commenting. I appreciate that!
Such a lovely and inspirational post, Carolyn. I love the pics as well. ““If there is light in the soul, there will be beauty in the person. ” This is true. Thanks so much for sharing.
Thank you Alexandra for all your support!
I have only recently learned to access my inner refuge and the peace within. I can affirm that everything you write in this post is possible. It may be difficult to find, but once found, it is so beautiful that I can’t imagine living any other way.
I’m so glad that you know it is all possible too and that you too can find that peace within. 🙂