“Peace is not a place, it’s inside me.” - Jason Wilson

Jason Wilson is flourishing! He’s at peace, holistic peace that comes from existing in right relationship - first with God then with self, others, and the world. 

After discovering this deep peace inside himself he committed to a lifestyle that embodied this wisdom. Over time he’s been able to develop a comprehensive way of living that aligns with true human flourishing. He’s now sharing this wisdom with others through various programming delivered by his non-profit organization The Yunion.

Jason hasn’t always been operating this way. In fact, much of his life has been spent struggling, consciously and subconsciously, with how to be comfortable in his own skin. “I would suppress all my emotions - I was emotionally incarcerated! I had to unlearn what I thought it meant to be a man.” 

His struggles stemmed from his deep longing for affirmation. To be seen and loved for who he was at the core. He was exhausted, both physically and emotionally. Like many of us, he had placed his whole worth in what he was doing. He was unconsciously limiting his potential by operating under the definitions society had handed him. He was performing, living out a false narrative, clinging to fake security, and it was wearing him down.

It took two near death experiences for him to finally commit to changing the narrative of his life. He decided to live from who he was by letting go of his fear of being exposed. In doing so, he was able to appreciate that his worth had nothing to do with what he was doing and everything to do with who he was. This revelation empowered him to stop seeking affirmation from the wrong people and places.

We’re all walking around wounded, we’re hurting, operating from a place of lack. We need healing. Healing is a life-long process, it takes time. It’s not that we’re incapable of doing the work, we're just too intimidated by the fact that doing so will require us to deal with ourselves. To be present in stillness, silence, and solitude long enough to get clarity on who we are and why that matters. Reflecting on the cause and effect of our lives that have contributed to our life experiences thus far. Once you begin to better understand the cause and effect you can be more gracious with yourself, you can confidently step into the lifestyle that you’ve longed for, and slowly start to develop the coherence to live well despite the circumstances of your life experiences.

Jason’s transformation started with a story transformation. He changed his own narrative by adopting a lifestyle of healing. An On Purpose path of formation that has led to true flourishing.

• STEP 1: ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR HURTS

• STEP 2: HONOR YOUR HARDSHIPS

• STEP 3: WORK TO HEAL

STEP 1: ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR HURTS

Trauma is trauma! It’s personal and should be treated as such. If we truly want to understand its implications on our life we must look inward to discover those truths. Unfortunately, many of us, especially men, have been ignoring and suppressing our own intuitions and instead looking extrinsically for those answers. The result of this process is what Jason would describe as Emotional Incarceration. 
According to Wilson, emotional incarceration is a self-imposed prison that traps people in a cycle of emotional suppression and unhealthy coping mechanisms. He argues that this internal confinement stems from societal expectations that discourage individuals from expressing their emotions freely and authentically.

To break free from emotional incarceration, we need to advocate for ourselves by first acknowledging that we are dealing with some hurtful issues. This is the first step in moving in a more healthy, helpful direction. A way of living that embraces emotional intelligence and vulnerability. Doing so will empower you to challenge societal norms, seek the support you need in your journey, and most importantly practice self-compassion. 
How are you coping with the trauma you’ve experienced in your life?

STEP 2: HONOR YOUR HARDSHIPS

In the realm of mental health, trauma is currently defined as a deeply distressing or disturbing experience that overwhelms an individual's ability to cope, causing long-lasting emotional, psychological, and sometimes physical effects. 

Most of us read this definition and immediately conclude that our hardships don’t meet the standard. We disqualify ourselves from this opportunity to undergo a process that could help us fully appreciate the realities of our life and the growth opportunities they present. 

Every adversity brings with it an equal opportunity for growth. This idea can be broadly categorized as Post-Traumatic Growth, which refers to the development of new strengths, resilience, and a deeper sense of meaning in life as a result of confronting and overcoming a traumatic experience.

Honoring your hardships ensures we never miss out on an opportunity to grow and develop. This approach to living is imperative if we’re going to have a chance at fully cultivating our strengths in service to our purpose.

What hardships are you currently facing? How are you relating to them? 
STEP 3: WORK TO HEAL

Everything eventually becomes work and healing is no exception. 

In fact, healing necessitates a specific type of work. Inner work or what we often refer to as Deep work. Which is the process of exploring and understanding your inner self, including your thoughts, feelings, beliefs, and motivations. 

This work is not linear and it will never be finished. Diving into this process with full commitment might possibly be the most rewarding endeavor we can ever undertake. It will have positive implications on every aspect of our lives.

As leaders we need to approach our healing with the same level of professionalism in which we go about our leadership development. Healing is a growth journey that should be integrated into your lifestyle. It will take dedicated time, intentional efforts, considerable patience, and self-compassion. 

It’s important to understand that healing will not occur without work. Nobody can do this work for you. Professionals can guide and equip you. Communities can empower and support you. Family and friends can love and accept you. But only you can heal you!

How are you approaching your healing journey? In what aspects can you professionalize your work?