Peacocks and Thorns
Caring Essentials Collaborative, LLC
Internationally recognized leader in trauma informed developmental care education
I just read this morning that peacocks sometimes eat thorns when food is scarce and that the thorns, once digested actually contribute to the shape and color of their beautiful plumage.
I find it fascinating that this magnificent creature generates much of its beauty from digesting pretty noxious and even painful things. That the pain is metabolized into such beauty spoke to me.
I think it's pretty fair to say that the majority of people on the planet have had their share of pain and/or painful experiences over the course of their life. We each have been taught to process these experiences in a variety of different ways.
A common 'processing' method is to not process the experience at all, but to bury it deep down and hope it never rears its ugly head again. This was a favorite strategy of mine.
Out of sight, out of mind; out of mind, out of sight - Right?!
But what I know about painful experiences, especially early life painful experiences is that the body remembers. It's not enough just to survive adversity. Most folks (and I am one of those folks) want to thrive and flourish in their lives.
What we are not taught is that early life experiences create cellular memories that become trapped when we choose not to metabolize the painful experience.
These cellular memories show up as anxiety, depression, anger, etc.
Metabolizing our painful experiences, our stories, allows us to discover that we are not alone; we are not alone in our suffering and that the acceptance and release of our suffering enables us to be a source of salvation to another.
As the metabolized thorns transform into the peacock's beautiful plumage, our own past traumas, once metabolized, become a source of beauty manifested as loving support and compassionate understanding for another.
No two peacocks are alike, just like each person's experience with early life adversity and trauma is unique. This uniqueness creates a wealth of beauty and strength that can be harnessed to heal the world.
Where the healing happens is when we can share our experiences; when we can discover that our beauty is not marred by our individual story, but, in fact is made even more beautiful.
When we are able to process and metabolize our story we uncover our strength, not just to survive, but to thrive, flourish and be a light, a shining example to others on their own healing journey.
Becoming trauma informed begins with understanding of one's own story, uncovering one's own wounds and transforming these wounds into wisdom and compassion for the lived experience of others.
Please join me for a FREE 1-HOUR WEBINAR entitled:
The Beauty We Hide, The Strength We Share Becoming Trauma Informed
This 1-hour live virtual & interactive session will present:
I have scheduled two sessions: