Bearing Witness

BEARING WITNESS

I had a conversation with a friend the other day that is going through a really tough time. She cried, and I cried with her, but I felt like there was not much I could do for her. Other than just being there and acknowledging her pain. She texted later and said it had helped so much for me to be there to bear witness.

It made me think about our bodies, our pain, our discomfort- our relationship with ourselves. The importance of simply bearing witness - acknowledging what is happening. In my practice, I think so much healing happens with people simply because together we make space for their pain and discomfort. We talk about it, we may not know what needs to be done about it yet, but the awareness is there- we witness it.

I set an intention to try to make this an ongoing practice within myself- in my relationship with myself. To bear witness to my pain and discomfort, whether it is physical, emotional, or mental. Not to push it down into a corner or ignore it. But rather to acknowledge it. Even if I can’t do anything about it right at that moment, or don’t know what needs to be done. To nod and say- “I hear you”, “I’m listening”. After all, that’s what I would want my good friend to do.

So when your back starts to hurt, rather than ignoring it or getting irritated with your “bad back”. You pause- and say “I hear you- I know I am pushing you right now, and later we will rest (or maybe roll and stretch and ice). But right now we need to finish this gardening. And THANK YOU for being here for me so I can get all of these weeds pulled.”

Think about how important it is in life just to be acknowledged as opposed to being ignored.