Individual Counseling for Homing: Returning to One’s True Self

Part 1 of a 2-Part One’s True Self Series

Years ago, I took a solo trip to the islands of Oahu and Kauai. During my 10 days in Hawaii, I experienced beauty, adventure, peace, and exhilaration. Snapshots of my time there remain in my memory forever – the colors and varieties of the ocean fish, the unbelievable size of those turtles, the deep blue water, and the warm raindrops falling through sunshine as I walked the Napali coast trail.

There was a waterfall that, as I moved closer, literally made me gasp. I filled my lungs. Then out came an unstoppable scream, barely audible over the roar of the waterfall. I was awe-struck by the grandiosity of that waterfall and the sheer the power of that moment.

Over the course of my trip, I grounded. I centered. I connected with myself. With God. I examined the importance of certain relationships in my life. I purged myself of certain thought patterns that did not serve me well. I regained a sense of awe and mystery in my relationship with Jesus. I became aware of a profound gratitude to God for my life, for the love and grace that I know on a daily basis, and for such adventures as Hawaii.

The Deepest Part of Ourselves

Have you ever been somewhere that you wanted to remember forever – that trip to Mexico, your service mission to Haiti, your grandfather’s farm years ago, a walk on the beach while on vacation, standing at the base of a waterfall that literally took your breath away, a random and magical experience at the zoo or park? Whatever it is, this desire to remember is a part of “homing.” It involves reminding ourselves of that deepest part of ourselves that arose out of dormancy and experienced magic, innocence, or pure joy.

You Are Alive!

You may even have tucked a leaf or a flower petal into your journal as a tangible marker of that time. What a desperate and sweet gesture that came from the knowledge that you will be required to deaden back into the routines and requirements of life, yet all the while holding the reality – the secret – that you are more than the routine. You are alive!

Think of a time when you felt most alive, free, wild, and at home in your skin. A time when your soul could not remain silent any longer. Perhaps it was that waterfall that caused you to scream from the wildness and power of it all. Or a moment of pure joy when you danced with abandon. Or maybe a quieter moment, when you knew you were exactly where you were supposed to be.

Staying Connected

We all need times to “get away from it all” in order to stay connected to that wild part of ourselves, that soul space within us, the “true you.” Can you recognize when you are drained to the point of drought? When you need to rejuvenate? In order to be most fruitful and alive, we need to remember who we truly are created to be. Ultimately, what we desire is Heaven and the Perfect Love that abides there. While here on earth, we get glimpses of that Love. We get moments and reminders.

Christian Counseling to Return to Your True Self

If you are experiencing a spiritual drought or experiencing physical and emotional symptoms of stress (such as sore muscles, insomnia, anxious thoughts, irritability, a lack of motivation, and even depressed thoughts), please consider calling a Christian counselor. Counseling can offer a space in which you can connect once again with Life and find perspective and your sense of “home.” From that grounded and alive place, you can see yourself and your purpose more clearly, and even make the changes you desire to see in your life.