The Second Initiation: Healing Through Vulnerability
In this deeply personal episode, Sarah Brassard shares her experience with a recent respiratory infection that became a powerful catalyst for healing old grief. Speaking with vulnerability even through her recovery, Sarah connects this physical illness to a similar respiratory infection she experienced 32 years ago—what she calls her "first initiation" into self-discovery.
Episode Highlights:
- Sarah reflects on recording the previous episode about her bronchial pneumonia at age 32, only to experience similar respiratory symptoms hours later
- The connection between physical ailments and stored emotional pain, particularly grief from losing her parents at ages 13 and 16
- How Sarah recognized this illness as "old grief coming through my physical body"
- The importance of prioritizing self-care by clearing her calendar and allowing herself to be vulnerable
- The science of neuroplasticity and how reframing our stories physically rewires our brains
- The shift from seeing experiences as "happening to me" to "happening for me."
Key Quote:
"I am courageous as I move closer to the way I was made." - Inspired by poet David Whyte
Guided Practice:
Sarah leads listeners through a "Story Shift" exercise:
- Recall a challenging experience from your past
- Notice how your body feels when recalling this experience
- Ask yourself: "What if this experience wasn't happening to me, but for me?"
- Consider what gifts it brought, what strengths you developed, and how it prepared you for something important later
- Notice the subtle shifts in your body as you reframe the experience
Science Behind the Practice:
Sarah references neuroscientist Dr. Maya Reinhardt's research on how reframing our narratives can:
- Improve vagal tone and heart rate variability
- Strengthen immune function
- Decrease stress hormones
- Help the nervous system understand that we're safe
Weekly Invitation:
Choose one story you tell about yourself—perhaps something labeled as a failure or disappointment:
- Write it down exactly as you currently tell it
- Write a second version focusing on what you gained, learned, and how you grew
- Read both versions aloud and notice how your body responds to each
Connect with Sarah:
Thank you for holding space for today's story.
May it remind you that you’re never alone in your healing.
🌸 Until next time, stay close.
