Do you really believe that it can happen? That’s the first question to ask yourself. Do you really believe that you can heal? The mind says one thing but the heart is pulling you in a different direction. The intelect, logic, says: “Of course, I know that G-d can cure me.” You know this intellectually, but do you really, really believe? This is the hard part. This is the faith part.

This is where the test lies. The Sages tell us that the rains won’t fall except for the “baalei amanah” – the masters of faith (Taanit 8a). Who were these masters of faith? The ones who planted seeds. They planted. They believed. This belief ignited the potential and G-d sent the rains in their merit. So, I ask you, do you really believe that you can heal? Do you really believe that you can feel better? Be better? Do better? It’s the first step. When a woman comes to me for healing it’s my prerequisite for the process. I ask her, and I ask you: “Do you see it happening? Do you believe it can? I do, but do you?”

 Her eyes tear. She’s in pain, and while her body feels pain, I know that the tears are not coming from the physical ache. They stream down her cheeks from the longing, the yearning. They flood from loneliness, sadness-from a deep inner pain. The woman takes a look at herself and she feels pain.

​I wonder, how many of us feel physical pain? How many suffer from chronic shoulder, back and neck pain? How many from migraine headaches, upset stomachs, hormonal imbalances? Could the source of the pain be from the heart that cries out in longing? From the thoughts that turn always to the negative? Could the pain stem from a need to be perfect and not accept anything less?

We pray for perfection:  But maybe the process to achieving this perfection is to first accept that “I’m not perfect and I don’t have to be.” We strengthen our faith and strive for new heights in it. We strengthen our connection and get closer and closer to our Creator. We accept our imperfection. We relinquish control, ask for help when we need it. Stop and rest when we need it. We take care of ourselves when we need to. NO, I’m not superwoman and I’m not even supposed to be one. Perfection in the imperfection and acceptance that the process is the goal – not how much I can get done – this is a form of redemption. This leads to healing. May it be a complete healing, a refuah shleima.