Have you ever caused another person harm?

I have.

This week, I spoke some words and, as I said them, I immediately wanted to suck them back into my mouth with a Dyson vacuum cleaner.

But they were already out there. And they caused harm. Unintentionally, but they did.

We are human, and these things are going to happen, even when we try our best to be self-aware, peaceful, and on good terms with all of our relations.

It was difficult for me to accept because I don’t want to hurt anyone or anything. My mission is to support peace and harmony in the world. I catch and release spiders. I sidestep potato bugs on the sidewalk. I sit in prayer with anyone who asks.

I believe these moments, when we feel discomfort between ourselves and another person, can become opportunities for healing. We can use them to create deeper connection and understanding if we choose to face them instead of ignore them.

Our planet needs us to step into the discomfort that can arise when we choose healing.

Because healing is not easy.

It means acknowledging the parts of ourselves and our lives that we may not want to look at. It means having conversations that require authenticity, vulnerability, and emotional honesty.

Our planet suffers when we ignore opportunities to heal.

Most of us were never taught how to share feelings or have healing conversations unless we intentionally seek out those tools and teachings. I’m grateful to have learned these skills from mentors and teachers over the years.

If you want to bring healing into your relationships too, here’s one approach. If you want to repair harm you may have caused, this is what you can do:

1) Get honest with yourself.
What harm do you think you caused? How do you feel about it?

2) Approach the other person.
Ask them to share how they are feeling. Listen. Acknowledge the harm you caused. Ask for forgiveness. Then forgive yourself too.

3) Let life heal you.
This final step is key. Let the energy of the Universe flow into the relationship. As you sit together, ask for healing energy. Release the pain. Receive the healing. Feel it. Let it soothe the tender, achy places.

Not everyone will want to take this approach. Not everyone will meet you there.

But at least you tried.

From my experience, it can be deeply empowering, allowing more of your own light to shine through.

It is worth the discomfort to bring more light into your own life and into the world.

We are meant to shine.

We are here to learn.

And to remember.

That peace is the way.

Helene Rose