Reflections on Opening Your Sail | Mind Culture’s Post-Trauma Course for Women

Life’s inevitable moments of deep sadness and soul-shattering events leave an indelible mark, transforming our existence. I call these experiences a “bushfire of the soul,” akin to a fierce blaze that incinerates everything in its path, leaving the land charred and unrecognisable. Recovery from this “bushfire” is a constant theme that weaves throughout our course for women after trauma.

You Are Not Alone in Trauma

Sadly, the experience of trauma is not uncommon. Research by Clinical Psychologists has shown that, by the time we reach our fifties, give or take a decade, about 90% of us will have experienced a traumatic event. Understanding the process of healing after a traumatic event is crucial for mental health and well-being.

It is powerful to acknowledge that an experience of trauma does not need to isolate us. This is one of the most validating realisations participants gain through the post-trauma course for women. 

Holding Your Choices Post-Trauma

In his profound work “Man’s Search For Meaning,” Viktor Frankl (a concentration camp survivor) asserts, “Forces beyond your control can take away everything you possess except one thing, your freedom to choose how you will respond to the situation.”

Embracing this philosophy, we find that even amidst devastation, we hold the power to choose our thoughts and feelings about such a “bushfire of the soul.”

Deliberate Thoughts Are Conscious Choices

In these challenging times, we must stand vigilant at the gate of our mind, carefully regulating which thoughts we allow to enter. It’s a powerful intention, but what strategies support how we achieve it?

The Mindfulness of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

Consider Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.  This motivational theory in psychology outlines that our basic needs—food, shelter, safety, and belonging—must be met before we can aspire to higher states of being.  These higher levels of the hierarchy - physiological, safety, love/belonging, esteem, and self-actualisation – may then be achieved.  Then, at the pinnacle of this hierarchy, lies self-transcendence.

What is Self-Transcendence?

Self-transcendence, as Maslow describes, is the ultimate human experience. It involves perceiving oneself as part of a continuum that extends through time and space. This view fosters a sense of connectedness with all of humanity, the earth, and the cosmos. It shifts our focus towards existential questions about the meaning of life and our mortality.

Craft Your Sailboat

When facing our own “bushfire of the soul,” recognising that these traumatic experiences are part of the human condition is crucial.

The metaphor of a sailboat illustrates this beautifully. The hull represents our basic psychological needs: safety, shelter, connection, and self-esteem. The sail symbolises our pursuits of exploration, learning, love, and purpose.

By opening our sail, we tap into the strength of our mind to choose how we respond to life’s challenges, propelling ourselves towards growth and self-transcendence.

My Wish for You

As you move through trauma, my wish for you is to embrace the power of choice and open your sail.

Amidst life’s bushfires, this choice enables us to navigate through the ashes and discover new horizons.

Reach out and connect with Mind Culture if your voyage is leading you towards a purposeful course for women after trauma.  Allow our unique services to be the gentle wind in your sails as you rediscover yourself, begin your healing journey and feel inspired again.