Give Your Heart an X-Ray

This past August, my oldest daughter had a serious wakeboarding accident. The eerie sense of calm told me that it wasn't just a sprain. Next, I heard her groans of pain and then saw her tears. We knew it was serious, and the swelling began immediately. By the time we arrived at the orthopedist's office the next day, her knee was the size of a grapefruit. The x-ray confirmed multiple tears, and we made plans for surgery.

Have you ever known something was wrong in your life? The signs are there: anger, emptiness, and withdrawal from relationships. Maybe you notice ever-present anxiety, jealousy, or substance abuse. You ruminate on past events or seek to control everything and everyone around you. You can see the "swelling."

Real change begins when we are willing to look more profound when we notice something is wrong. Don't be hard on yourself or try to shame yourself into changing. Try to avoid immediately blaming someone else for your struggle. Instead, get curious about what is going on. Here are some questions that can help you do a mindful x-ray of your heart:

1. What am I experiencing emotionally? For example, do I feel alone, unacceptable, unsure, or unloved when I struggle?

2. Is this a familiar feeling?

3. When I am my best self, what meaningful truth do I know to be true? (Example: I am supported, capable, known, enough, enjoyable)

4. How can I make contact with and live out this truth?

Sometimes, we can shift gears in our brains through our mindful practices. Other times, we need a community to recognize the truth about ourselves and our circumstances. We need our family, friends, or a therapist to help us heal from a serious emotional injury. I don't know what you need during this season, but I want to give you the following encouragement: Don't just put ice on your "knee" and push through the pain. Use the tools of mindful reflection and the gift of community to live from a place of truth!