Healing at Work

Some time ago, during coffee with a former colleague, we were both surprised by a sudden outpouring of emotion–on my part–when she mentioned an incident in our old workplace.  I thought I was over it.

Being incredibly emotionally intelligent, she allowed me to feel the feelings and stayed with me without getting anxious herself.  

Then she did a most extraordinary thing.  After my tears–yes, right in the coffee shop–subsided, she looked me in the face, took my hands in hers, and she apologized for the entire situation that had caused me such pain a few years before.

What you need to know is that she didn’t even work there at the time of the incidents. It didn’t matter.  She had touched on the one thing that was missing from my own attempts to heal myself–acknowledgement and apology.

Next time, I will share with you how I turned that elegant moment into an exercise that I have used with clients for incredible healing.  I am still stunned at the amount of emotional hurt people are carrying around from painful work experiences.

But first, I invite you to share your own stories of painful experiences at work–and healing.  Please make your comments below.