Sometimes, it feels as if the entire world is in pain. And when you are a deeply empathic person, then odds are you go through life seeming to carry the world’s wounds on your shoulders. But this incredible sensitivity does not have to be a source of more pain. In fact, it can be the root of your power, particularly if you use that nurturing heart, caring spirit, sensitive soul to heal others.

Whether you’ve been contemplating embarking on the path of a healer for a long time now, or the idea is new to you, there are some important things you need to know to become a well-rounded healer.

Choosing the Path That’s Right For You

One of the first and most important things to remember when you choose to devote your life to helping others is that there is no singular path, no right or wrong way to do it. Depending on your goals, your interests, and your particular strengths, you might find that a more formal route, such as medical or nursing school, is best for you. Take some time to assess your personality, your needs, and your lifestyle to see if a career in clinical medicine is best for you and your family.

If it turns out that the idea of dedicating the next several years of your life to medical schooling and pursuing a rigorous career in a hospital or clinic just doesn’t feel right, or just doesn’t inspire you enough, don’t despair. There are many ways that you can use your gifts to help heal others. For example, you might study alternative health, such as homeopathy, to help clients facing chronic medical conditions, recovering from acute injury, or simply seeking to enhance their health, longevity, and quality of life using natural remedies.

Similarly, if your interest lies primarily in helping chronic pain patients ease their suffering without reliance on opioids or drastic surgical interventions, then you might explore the rapidly evolving field of energy medicine. From Reiki to emotional freedom tapping (EFT), research is increasingly demonstrating the power of alternative therapies to manage anxiety and reduce pain intensity for chronic sufferers.

Even if you choose not to pursue the more traditional route of formal medical training, however, it is still important that you complete some basic first aid training. Not only will this ensure that you are prepared in the event of an emergency with a client, but it can also be a beneficial selling point with prospective clients as you begin to build your practice.

The Importance of Sleep

No matter what your particular area of practice, there will always be certain universals, certain needs that all of your clients will have, certain areas of patient care you will need to focus on.

And one of the most important, by far, will be helping your clients develop healthy sleep habits. Scientists have long understood the vital role that the body’s circadian rhythms play in both physical and emotional health. Unfortunately, the chaotic pace of modern life, combined with the unique stressors of pandemic living, have made it nearly impossible for many of us to care for our bodies’ natural rhythms.

That means that chances are, your clients are not only sleeping less, but they’re also sleeping poorly. They may be working at all hours of the day. They’re likely receiving calls, texts, and emails into the wee hours of the morning. In short, they’re “always on,” and it’s taking a devastating toll on their circadian rhythms.

That’s where you come in. As a healer, regardless of your particular specialty, one of the first and most important things you can do is help your clients develop healthy sleep habits. A particularly effective tool for this is to teach your clients meditation techniques designed to your clients manage stress, deal with anxiety, and prepare for sleep.

As your clients become more adept in meditation, you’ll find not only that they’re sleeping better, but also that they’re feeling better, both physically and emotionally. Poor quality sleep has been strongly associated both with depression and with chronic pain. After all, patients who are beset with pain, sadness, or worry simply will not sleep well, and sleep deprivation will only exacerbate the symptoms that make good sleep impossible. If you can break this vicious cycle and replace it with a pattern in which one great night’s sleep leads to another, you’re going to lay the foundations for your client’s health and longevity for years to come.

The Importance of Self-Care

Healers, whatever their particular field, are by nature altruistic. That’s what makes them successful. But there is an inevitable dark side, because when you devote your life to taking care of others, it can be hard to remember to take care of yourself.

But if you are going to be a well-rounded healer, and if you want to build a successful career that endures for the long haul, then it’s imperative that you make self-care a top priority. How can you hope to heal and care for others, after all, if you do not work to heal, and care for, yourself? The good news is that you can use the same techniques that you deploy for your patients, from meditation and visualization to journaling.

This will also give you the added benefit of being able to speak to your clients from firsthand experience. You will have direct knowledge of how these strategies feel, what works, and what may not for your clients.

The Takeaway

The path of the healer may not be for everyone, but when you have that calling, there is simply nothing better. However, it is important to chart your own journey and not be limited to what is traditional or expected. Above all, your greatest successes as a healer will be in approaching your clients, your work, and your own being from a holistic perspective, focusing on mind, body, and spirit.   

About the author:

Frankie Wallace is a freelance writer from the Pacific Northwest. She writes about a variety of topics, and spends most of her free time in her garden. 

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