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growth and learning, which helps us to behave more and more lovingly towards others and ourselves. This journey helps us grow to be more and more like Jesus and be positive influences in our communities. Beware of people who promise instant cures! Shortcuts will lure us into worse trouble than before.
God has given us many different gifts to help us heal our emotional pain. Some important ones are:

1. Laughter often helps us feel better right away. We need to stay away from the nasty kind of laughter that puts people down, and look for the kind that recognizes that none of us are perfect or all-powerful and we often do crazy things. When we can laugh at ourselves, we let go of our self-importance and make more room for God to work in our lives.

2. Tears help release poisons from the body and the soul. They are not a sign of weakness, but of strength.

3. Sharing our hurts with trusted friends and counselors shrinks them so that we can deal with them more easily.

4. Prayer is our source of wisdom, strength, and love.

5. Medicine works together with other methods of healing. Even if they don't realize it, doctors and therapists work for God and with God.

6. The sacramental acts of the church are powerful channels of healing. The Holy Eucharist makes us one with Jesus. Laying-on of hands and anointing with oil assure us that God loves, forgives, heals and accepts us, and also show us that other people care about what we are going through and want to help. If we are burdened with guilt, we can make a formal confession to a priest and receive absolution.

7. Music can be very helpful. St. Augustine said, "Who sings, prays twice." Singing with others or alone helps us express our feelings and open ourselves up to healing. Listening to music can give us energy or quiet us down.

8. Nature puts us in touch with the Creator. We often feel better after spending some time outdoors enjoying the sky and the water and the trees and everything God made. Pets can help us too. They are good listeners, and give us something alive to look after.

9. Arts and crafts help us express ourselves. When we spend our energy to make something beautiful and useful, we share in God's creativity.

10. Exercise is important. If our body is not in good shape, our emotions suffer. When the body is being exercised, it responds by releasing substances which help us feel better.
When we use these healing gifts, we help ourselves and invite God to take over our lives. If we feel sorry for ourselves, punish ourselves, or blame others, we are shutting God out.

THINGS TO THINK ABOUT
God always wants what is best for us, and he knows what that is.

God has given us free will. We can accept him and his plan, or we can reject them. The same is true of other people. We can't force them to change; we can only encourage them. The only person I can change is myself, and it isn't easy.

Talking to God is good. Listening to God is better.

Someone who is in trouble is just as valuable to God as someone who is doing well.

There are many different ways of praying. No matter how we do it, God is always with us, watching and listening and ready to help.

Everyone is different. What helps one person may not help another. Before we try to help ourselves or someone else, it is a good idea to pray for guidance.

We are all at different stages of our journey, so we won't see things the same way.
People who are different from us are children of God, just as we are.

Putting others down is an insult to the Creator who made them. Letting others put us down, or putting ourselves down, is an insult to the Creator who made us.

Learn more about this author, Christine G..
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