WORKSHEET
Re-Writing My Story - Comfort and Healing of Memories
A "WORKSHEET" is simply a way for you to look squarely at yourself and see where you are. Like a GPS system in your car or in your phone, you have to know where you're at, honestly, clearly and completely.
At the beginning of these worksheets, take time to pause and quiet yourself. This is a great time for reflection as to how to care for yourself. Ask the Holy Spirit for inspiration and insight as you work through this worksheet.
Worksheets can be printed so you can reflect on them later, or perhaps your device has the ability to make notes right on the Worksheet page, then you can save the Worksheet in your device for later review.
This is an exciting and important worksheet. You are invited to allow the LIVING Jesus to be with you, to comfort you to and bring truth to you in all the wounding experiences of your life, experiences that, in fact, are still LIVING within your mind, emotions and body! You will find a version of this included in three different weeks, due to its importance!
It is important to understand that rather than having harmful memories and emotions at our core, and God trying to dig into them, the opposite is now true. God is at our core and flows outward to our memories and the deep beliefs and emotions associated with them. This is the deepest healing imaginable!
In addition, as the Holy Spirit comes and lives within us at our deepest core, we have the incredible gift of being transformed in our thoughts and emotions by receiving the thoughts and heart-perspective of Jesus Himself.
Healing occurs from the INSIDE-OUT! This type of on-going healing flows as a cleansing and life-giving river to our OUTSIDE, where our thoughts, images and reactive emotions exist.
As we invite Jesus to meet us in our memories, we experience the gradual change from general distress to experiencing His calming presence with us. He is not bound by “time” as we know it, and therefore is not only with us NOW, but also can be present in any and all our memories! He tells us TODAY about the impact of that memory on you, both then and now, and He tells us WHY it happened as well! Many people “see” a memory, but in their mind’s eye now with Jesus Himself with them, explaining, comforting, reassuring, encouraging, and now re-writing!
Remember that the work of healing through this workbook is not a substitute for professional counseling. As you seek healing for loss and healing of memories, the flight/fight/shut down neurological response may be activated. In order to begin healing of memory work it is essential that you are able to calm this response with slowing your breathing and grounding yourself in the present. Review the grounding tools in the “tool kit” section.
Also, it is common that emotions of deep shame may be activated and experienced as a reaction in processing painful memories. Why? Because the powerlessness experienced in trauma can be seen as “weakness” in the heart of the victim. Also, the person, especially a child, may come to believe that the event happened because there was something wrong within them, rather than something wrong happening to them.
It is important that you begin this work from a position of SAFETY. It is important that you intentionally focus on the fact that you are “VIEWING” this memory and NOT “RELIVING” THIS MEMORY!
It is also important that you “view” this memory with compassion and empathy for YOU in the midst of that situation. Working with a professional therapist may be important because of this, or at least a friend. And to be sure, prayerfully and intentionally inviting Jesus TO BE WITH YOU is your SAFEST PLACE TO BE!
Allow yourself to envision His presence in your heart’s eye. A practical tool that might help you is keeping a "journal". We often pray: “Open the eyes of my heart Lord, I want to SEE YOU.” Be in that “place” of safety throughout the work of processing this memory.
If you begin to experience distress, follow the guideline for PAUSE presented toward the end of the "WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW" tab. Your focus and your intention is to process the memory correctly, so give language to your feelings and thoughts. Also, intentionally seek new understandings and perspectives that you were not able to consider in the midst of your neurological reactions during the event.
As you choose to agree with this NEW view of this event through the eyes of Jesus, and allow it to calm you, this memory will become “stored” in your memory “archives” in a completely new way! This memory will be on its way from the emotional brain to long term memory. You will be able to tell your story but not be over-reactive and/or devastated. You have received comfort.
We are suggesting that you use the “Pause, Reflect, Receive” model as described below.
PAUSE … The ability to walk through this memory with Jesus moving toward hope, rather then re-living it with pain!
Cry out to Jesus as a person so that you can be quieted in His love. In this quiet place with Jesus, you can share the story of your memory from the safe place of being with Jesus. Ask Jesus to bring to your awareness the specific memory that is to be comforted and re-written.
Imagine this memory as a “video” that you are viewing, only instead of the pain and anguish you are used to, you are now watching it through the compassionate “eyes” of Jesus, Who gives to you understanding and comfort.
Some people actually “sense” His presence in the memory as well, perhaps standing, sitting, talking! As you and Jesus talk, express every upsetting emotion you had when you used to think about this memory, and be sure to note your new emotions as you hear His soothing voice now.
An important note: Sometimes Jesus will take you “frame by frame”, minute by minute through this memory-video, rather than rush through the entire memory all at one time. Together, you and He will sense when to wait in part of the memory, and when to move on in the memory.
REFLECT… The ability to hear clearly, and sense clearly, His heart, words and actions.
Ask Jesus the questions about this memory that you have been wanting to ask, perhaps for a long time! And then be sure to listen to Him as He speaks with you. Hear Him also as He speaks to other people in that memory. In addition to speaking, what might Jesus actually do in that memory? Look for action as well as words.
Do not rush through this reflection process. Allow time for the “video” to be “edited”.
How does His presence in this memory change your feelings about yourself and those involved, as well as the nature of God Himself?
How is His heart for you and those involved in this memory different from what you felt or came to believe?
RECEIVE… The ability to let His truth about this memory sink deeply into your heart and spirit by choosing to agree with, and thank Him, for what He has revealed to you.
What is the truth of this event through the heart and eyes of Jesus?
What is the lie that the world and the enemy would want you to accept as truth?
How does this realization change your thoughts, feelings, beliefs and behavior in your current life?
Now that you have paused and reflected on everything above, answer these…
I have come to believe…
I have gained…
I am set free to feel…
and set free to act…
Click HERE to go back to "Week 16 Outline".
Click HERE to go to "Whose Plans are Better?".
Re-Writing My Story - Comfort and Healing of Memories
A "WORKSHEET" is simply a way for you to look squarely at yourself and see where you are. Like a GPS system in your car or in your phone, you have to know where you're at, honestly, clearly and completely.
At the beginning of these worksheets, take time to pause and quiet yourself. This is a great time for reflection as to how to care for yourself. Ask the Holy Spirit for inspiration and insight as you work through this worksheet.
Worksheets can be printed so you can reflect on them later, or perhaps your device has the ability to make notes right on the Worksheet page, then you can save the Worksheet in your device for later review.
This is an exciting and important worksheet. You are invited to allow the LIVING Jesus to be with you, to comfort you to and bring truth to you in all the wounding experiences of your life, experiences that, in fact, are still LIVING within your mind, emotions and body! You will find a version of this included in three different weeks, due to its importance!
It is important to understand that rather than having harmful memories and emotions at our core, and God trying to dig into them, the opposite is now true. God is at our core and flows outward to our memories and the deep beliefs and emotions associated with them. This is the deepest healing imaginable!
In addition, as the Holy Spirit comes and lives within us at our deepest core, we have the incredible gift of being transformed in our thoughts and emotions by receiving the thoughts and heart-perspective of Jesus Himself.
Healing occurs from the INSIDE-OUT! This type of on-going healing flows as a cleansing and life-giving river to our OUTSIDE, where our thoughts, images and reactive emotions exist.
As we invite Jesus to meet us in our memories, we experience the gradual change from general distress to experiencing His calming presence with us. He is not bound by “time” as we know it, and therefore is not only with us NOW, but also can be present in any and all our memories! He tells us TODAY about the impact of that memory on you, both then and now, and He tells us WHY it happened as well! Many people “see” a memory, but in their mind’s eye now with Jesus Himself with them, explaining, comforting, reassuring, encouraging, and now re-writing!
Remember that the work of healing through this workbook is not a substitute for professional counseling. As you seek healing for loss and healing of memories, the flight/fight/shut down neurological response may be activated. In order to begin healing of memory work it is essential that you are able to calm this response with slowing your breathing and grounding yourself in the present. Review the grounding tools in the “tool kit” section.
Also, it is common that emotions of deep shame may be activated and experienced as a reaction in processing painful memories. Why? Because the powerlessness experienced in trauma can be seen as “weakness” in the heart of the victim. Also, the person, especially a child, may come to believe that the event happened because there was something wrong within them, rather than something wrong happening to them.
It is important that you begin this work from a position of SAFETY. It is important that you intentionally focus on the fact that you are “VIEWING” this memory and NOT “RELIVING” THIS MEMORY!
It is also important that you “view” this memory with compassion and empathy for YOU in the midst of that situation. Working with a professional therapist may be important because of this, or at least a friend. And to be sure, prayerfully and intentionally inviting Jesus TO BE WITH YOU is your SAFEST PLACE TO BE!
Allow yourself to envision His presence in your heart’s eye. A practical tool that might help you is keeping a "journal". We often pray: “Open the eyes of my heart Lord, I want to SEE YOU.” Be in that “place” of safety throughout the work of processing this memory.
If you begin to experience distress, follow the guideline for PAUSE presented toward the end of the "WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW" tab. Your focus and your intention is to process the memory correctly, so give language to your feelings and thoughts. Also, intentionally seek new understandings and perspectives that you were not able to consider in the midst of your neurological reactions during the event.
As you choose to agree with this NEW view of this event through the eyes of Jesus, and allow it to calm you, this memory will become “stored” in your memory “archives” in a completely new way! This memory will be on its way from the emotional brain to long term memory. You will be able to tell your story but not be over-reactive and/or devastated. You have received comfort.
We are suggesting that you use the “Pause, Reflect, Receive” model as described below.
PAUSE … The ability to walk through this memory with Jesus moving toward hope, rather then re-living it with pain!
Cry out to Jesus as a person so that you can be quieted in His love. In this quiet place with Jesus, you can share the story of your memory from the safe place of being with Jesus. Ask Jesus to bring to your awareness the specific memory that is to be comforted and re-written.
Imagine this memory as a “video” that you are viewing, only instead of the pain and anguish you are used to, you are now watching it through the compassionate “eyes” of Jesus, Who gives to you understanding and comfort.
Some people actually “sense” His presence in the memory as well, perhaps standing, sitting, talking! As you and Jesus talk, express every upsetting emotion you had when you used to think about this memory, and be sure to note your new emotions as you hear His soothing voice now.
An important note: Sometimes Jesus will take you “frame by frame”, minute by minute through this memory-video, rather than rush through the entire memory all at one time. Together, you and He will sense when to wait in part of the memory, and when to move on in the memory.
REFLECT… The ability to hear clearly, and sense clearly, His heart, words and actions.
Ask Jesus the questions about this memory that you have been wanting to ask, perhaps for a long time! And then be sure to listen to Him as He speaks with you. Hear Him also as He speaks to other people in that memory. In addition to speaking, what might Jesus actually do in that memory? Look for action as well as words.
Do not rush through this reflection process. Allow time for the “video” to be “edited”.
How does His presence in this memory change your feelings about yourself and those involved, as well as the nature of God Himself?
How is His heart for you and those involved in this memory different from what you felt or came to believe?
RECEIVE… The ability to let His truth about this memory sink deeply into your heart and spirit by choosing to agree with, and thank Him, for what He has revealed to you.
What is the truth of this event through the heart and eyes of Jesus?
What is the lie that the world and the enemy would want you to accept as truth?
How does this realization change your thoughts, feelings, beliefs and behavior in your current life?
Now that you have paused and reflected on everything above, answer these…
I have come to believe…
I have gained…
I am set free to feel…
and set free to act…
Click HERE to go back to "Week 16 Outline".
Click HERE to go to "Whose Plans are Better?".