Time and healing

When life moves at full speed, we often focus on productivity, responsibility, and survival. Yet, when we finally have time — whether through a quieter season, a sabbatical, retirement, or intentional slowing down — we can open up a world of inner exploration and healing.

Time allows for curiosity and exploration. And as we get older that exploration can lead to better health, whether emotional, physical or mental.

If we allow it we can grow with questions like:

• What does my body need?

• What emotions have I postponed?

• What stories am I still carrying?

• What else is possible for me?

This is where we get curious and explore the realm of healing. I am not talking about weird, unsubstantiated and bizarre stuff, although these are not necessarily mainstream or recommended by your GP. But they offer structured, supported ways to explore the physical, emotional, psychological, and even spiritual dimensions of ourselves.

I have explored :

Trauma Release Exercises (TRE): Healing through the body

TRE is designed to help release deep muscular tension and stress patterns stored in the body and it is exquisite in its simplicity. Through a series of gentle exercises, the body is invited to activate a natural tremoring response — a neurogenic shake that helps discharge accumulated stress.

Unlike talk therapy, TRE works from the bottom up. The body leads; the mind follows.

Where we have often overridden signals of stress because we have had to push through, we now have the time to let the body release and relax. The first time I did TRE I felt like I had just had a 3 hour massage.

I always like practices that allow you to continue with them in your own time and space; not to mention no cost. And TRE does that. Once you have a clear understanding of how the exercises are done properly you can do them at home.

It is a physical practice — but can be emotional. As tension releases, people often experience unexpected clarity, softer breathing, improved sleep, or a greater sense of groundedness. The body remembers what safety feels like.

Family constellations: Healing the emotional and ancestral field

Family constellations offers a very different, yet equally powerful, space for exploration.

Developed by Bert Hellinger, this systemic approach looks at how unresolved dynamics within families — sometimes spanning generations — can unconsciously influence our lives.

In a constellation process, patterns of loyalty, exclusion, trauma, or unresolved grief are gently brought into awareness. The experience is often described as deeply moving, because it works beyond logic. It touches something older, relational, and collective.

Family constellations is not about blaming parents or reliving pain. It is about restoring order, acknowledging what was, and allowing each person to take their rightful place.

I have often seen people do constellations in order to prevent family trauma being passed on to the next generation. Genetic research shows that trauma can change our DNA and can be passed on to future generations. If you are interested to read more on the field of epigenetics and how trauma sits in our DNA here is an article to start with: The Legacy of Trauma

The setup of a constellation requires a number of people to be present and take on certain roles. And just being part of this healing group and holding space for others to heal is impactful beyond words and allows for us to reflect on our own journey of healing.

This is something that must be done by an experienced practitioner.

My experience allowed me to see what roles I was taking on in the family that were not mine, letting them go and living a life more free of stress. There are many others to explore and I encourage you to explore those in conversations with others. Chances are others have had experiences you may resonate with and want to try.

When we give ourselves time, healing becomes less about “fixing” and more about exploring.

You might enter a TRE session to release stress — and discover a new relationship with your body. You might join a family constellation to understand a repeating pattern — and uncover unexpected compassion for your lineage.

The key is spaciousness. Curiosity. Willingness.

And the door may open to fun, excitement, recognition, healing and maybe a more content You.

All the best

Britta

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Meet Britta Rotmann

Britta is an end of life companion doula who shifted from a varied career in law, government, international organisations and NPOs to the more sacred work of being with people at the end of their life. Although her BA, LLB and Masters in Law bring relevant knowledge to the field, it is her ability to ask the tough questions and sit in difficult conversations that is her core competency in this work.

Britta writes about what makes our end of life processes easier so that we can focus on the sacredness of this time. Contact Britta at meerkatphilosophy@gmail.com or read more about her here.