Trauma, Self-Discovery, and Divine Whispers

Embracing the Journey of Healing, Growth, and Transformation

Trauma:

After going through a life of trauma, hardship, and the stunting of your authentic self, you have to really ride for yourself. Only you have gotten yourself through all of that, the best way you knew how at the time. The beautiful thing about this journey is that you get to actively rewrite the narrative of your life. You get to cultivate your own path. I highly recommend anyone reading that you tap into your interests. You may not even know completely and they may have taken years to even recognize. However, it is of the utmost importance that you build a life that is YOUR VISION, not anyone else’s. That’s where true healing takes place.

Growing up neurodivergent in an environment that wasn’t safe, healthy, or supportive, whether from family, society, or both, comes with its unique form of trauma. So many of us have lived through experiences that shaped us before we even understood what was happening. The work we must do isn’t just about rewriting the narrative; it’s about shifting your perception of your past and examining your relationship to the present. It’s good to recognize the struggles. There were many moments where you were a victim, but I’ve found it’s not helpful to center your identity around that fact. It’s about offering yourself grace, love, and compassion while shifting your perspective to one of resilience, strength, and determination. Because that’s what molds us into the most powerful version of ourselves.

I don’t want to say trauma gives you superpowers, but if you’ve navigated complex trauma, you develop an innate understanding of the world that is unique. I know I have it, but understanding and harnessing it takes time. I have found solace and healing in making and connecting with nature, animals, and others. The principles are similar, but the specifics are different for every person. Find your refuge. No matter what it is, there is something for you.

Personal Sketch: Fear & Love

(Art has no boundaries or required form. And often what you expect of it, turns out completely different. What threads within, do you need to explore?)

I see this magnificent understanding in others as well. It’s made up of people who have faced pain, deeply felt it, and still emerged on the other side, healed and ready to share their gifts. Social media is such an amazing way to connect with others who you previously would have to strike gold to come across. In that sense, being able to engage with this range of people has been an absolute blessing for me, and I encourage you to seek out and engage in communities that resonate with you.

Whether through creativity, love, leadership, or mastery of a craft, what you bring into the world is shaped by your story. Trauma can make you feel robbed of your identity and potential, but it can also be a source of profound depth and purpose. The good news is that you write the script of your own life. Maybe that wasn’t always the case, but it is now. And it can be going forward. That doesn’t mean you don’t grieve the lost time and opportunities, you must. That grief is a strong reminder of where you come from. But remember, the people doing the most impactful, beautiful, and inspiring things often have stories with dark origins. I can attest to this. The deeper the wound, the more powerful the healing, and the more profound the transformation. That’s one of the most beautiful paradoxes in this life.

Self-Discovery:

So much self-discovery comes from sitting still and listening. Listening to that quiet, persistent voice within, the one guiding you toward your highest self. It’s subtle but grows stronger when you tune out the noise. And when you truly listen, not just to yourself but to the world, and others, you begin to hold a sacred space. You hold space for your pains, your ambitions, and your deepest desires. If you can do that for yourself, you can do it for others. Here is one of my favorite poems reflecting this phenomenon.

Lost

Stand still. The trees ahead and bushes beside you
Are not lost. Wherever you are is called Here,
And you must treat it as a powerful stranger,
Must ask permission to know it and be known.
The forest breathes. Listen. It answers,
I have made this place around you.
If you leave it, you may come back again, saying Here.
No two trees are the same as Raven.
No two branches are the same to Wren.
If what a tree or a bush does is lost on you,
You are surely lost. Stand still. The forest knows
Where you are. You must let it find you.

-- David Wagoner

This world is full of distractions, constantly pulling you away from that voice. It’s easy to get lost in suffering, in pleasure, in distrust, watching your life pass you by. But at some point, you have to decide that enough is enough. You have to be willing to sit with your deepest thoughts and feelings, to let them finally have space to breathe. To integrate every part of yourself. And then, you get to choose: What do you take with you? What do you release? It was in the moments of quiet self-reflection, and solitude that I discovered myself. Just me, my thoughts, and a journal.

Sketch #2: The Eye

(This sketch reflects how I feel like we always can see clearly amidst all the chaos)

I choose to take my pain, my trauma, and my experiences and transmute them into something the world can understand. I could have run from them. I could have tried to forget. But I have a responsibility, to myself and to the world, to remember. Not to hold on desperately, but to remember so I can share. So I can remind those in their darkest hour that the darkness doesn’t last forever. That there is always light to be found. Hold onto that hope. Right now, this may seem like a faint mirage in a vast oasis, but as you walk closer to the source, the universe will reveal everything.

That voice inside you? That’s divinity whispering. And when you listen long enough, those whispers become intuition. That intuition, once developed, becomes your guiding star. Feed that. Don’t feed what takes you away from it. One path leads to fulfillment, joy, connection, love, and freedom. You can call this whatever you want. God, a higher power, spirit. Whatever fits your circumstances and preferences. The other path leads to depression, anxiety, shame, and unfulfilled potential. Walking this path is a rite of passage in a sense. But it’s paramount to not lose sight of the ultimate goal.

We live life in a series of moments. So, in this moment, sit with yourself. Truly listen. Take a moment to collect yourself. Then make your next best move, immediately, and in the short term. Let the rest unfold from there. You’ll be astonished at where that momentum can take you. Thanks for reading. And as always, wishing you peace and love!

- Sain