The Ultimate Guide to Self-Healing (Including a List of 75+ Techniques)

What is self-healing?

Can you really heal yourself?

What does a self-healing journey look like? How does it work?

What are the self-healing techniques, methods, and exercises available to you?

We’ll address these questions and much more in this in-depth guide.

Let’s dive in …

What is Self-Healing?

As the term implies, self-healing is the process of healing oneself. The “self” in this context refers to one’s entire being.

Healing means to become whole and return to one’s natural state. When your skin is cut and it heals, it becomes whole again. The same thing goes for healing biochemical imbalances, emotional wounds, mental distress, and spiritual emptiness.

Self-healing is the process by which an individual achieves a state of wholeness—one’s way of restoring and recovering from prior physical and emotional wounds, traumas, illnesses, and imbalances.

4 Dimensions of Self-Healing

Self-healing can be applied to at least the physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual dimension of one’s being:

• Body: Physical issues like wounds, inflammation, chronic illnesses, and diseases.
• Mind: Mental problems like limiting beliefs, negative self-talk, poor self-image, and various mental illness disorders.
• Emotions: Emotional tensions like repressed negative emotions (anger, rage, fear, grief, resentment), chronic emotional problems (anxiety and depression), and other emotion-related disorders.
• Soul/Spirit: Spiritual tensions like a prevailing sense of meaninglessness, emptiness, isolation, disconnection, despair, or existential angst

A wide range of methods and self-healing techniques exist to help individuals heal themselves from each of these dimensions.

Four Basic Dimensions for Self-Healing

Can You Heal Yourself?

It’s an essential question when you first begin your self-healing journey:

Can you actually heal yourself?

Or must you seek external aid?

Your belief about self-healing is just as vital as the process itself.

Why? Because if you consciously or subconsciously believe you can’t heal yourself, your mind will help you confirm your belief (called confirmation bias).

Conversely, if you believe—with full conviction—that you CAN heal yourself, your cells, psyche, and vital energy will actualize this reality.

(See Bruce H. Lipton’s bestseller, The Biology of Belief, for a deep dive on this topic.)

Why Self-Healing is Important

At the core of self-healing are the principles of responsibility and self-reliance.

When we embark on our self-healing journey, we take responsibility for ourselves and the healing process.

Meaning our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual state is in our hands—and no one else’s.

Instead of playing a victim role or projecting authority onto others, we constellate our innate power within ourselves.

In doing so, we cultivate self-reliance, a crucial aspect of developing into strong, competent, and autonomous adults.

When we avoid responsibility, we subconsciously adopt the role of the helpless victim. When this occurs, genuine healing cannot manifest.

Note: This doesn’t suggest that you can’t seek any external aid at times, when appropriate or necessary. It simply means that the function of healing is up to the individual, and no one else.

The Benefits of Practicing Self-Healing

Why would you practice self-healing?

This internal journey comes with numerous benefits:

Improved self-confidence: It’s empowering to address and resolve personal problems effectively on one’s own.

Stronger self-resilience: The more you can heal yourself, the more resilient you become when future challenges arise.

Enhanced self-awareness: The process of self-healing enables you to observe, understand, and regulate your emotions and thought patterns more effectively.

Greater internal balance: Your self-healing journey tends to strengthen your connection of body, mind, soul, and spirit.

And, of course, you’ll be healing yourself along the way!

The Essential Mechanism of Self-Healing

Self-healing is a natural, organic process. Our natural state is full vitality and vibrancy. The body’s innate ability to heal itself will never be rivaled by any insights or interventions from the “medical field”.

The genuine healing mechanism is the Self, or Higher Self, in contrast to the small self (which represents the ego).

Perhaps you’re familiar with the famous quote from inventor Nikola Tesla:

If you want to find the secrets of the universe, think in terms of energy, frequency, and vibration.

Ultimately, each of us is like a universe, and as such, the same principles apply.

Life Force Energy

At the core of our being are our innate healing capacities centered in the Self, which manifest as energies, frequencies, and vibrations.

This, of course, is not a new concept. The ancient traditions understood this millennia ago.

The ancient Taoist alchemists referred to it as vital energy or chi and developed an entire system for cultivating this energy to return to the “Original Spirit.” Hindus referred to it as Prana. The ancient Japanese called it Hara.

When this life force energy flows freely and smoothly, all is well. However, when this vital energy is obstructed and becomes stagnant, dis-ease manifests.

The Body’s Energic System

The body is a complex energetic system comprising intricate channels, points, fields, and pathways. It contains numerous types of energetic frequencies and “data packets”. (For example, each vital organ has its own frequency.)

While we were taught that the heart is responsible for pumping blood through the body, this is likely not true. The heart represents a toroidal field, akin to a free energy generator. The lungs, instead of breathing in oxygen as we “taught,” breathe and exchange energy with the environment.¹https://drtomcowan.com/blogs/the-new-biology-learning-center/do-we-breathe-oxygen-webinar-12-04-2024

Various types of energetic signatures also exist within the body. For example, in the Taoist arts, it’s understood that these vibrational frequencies have three primary states: Jing, Chi, and Shen.

Each of these vibrations possesses its own unique qualities, influencing the body, mind, and spirit in distinct ways.

Obstacles to Self-Healing

Once you understand that the body is a complex system of energetic fields and frequencies, it becomes easier to appreciate how many factors can influence its current state.

While the body’s energetic matrix is naturally self-healing and self-regulating, various factors can hinder its ability to restore itself.

What blocks innate healing? There are two fundamental categories of obstacles:

1. External conditions
2. Internal factors

Let’s examine both of these categories in more detail:

External Factors that Inhibit Self-Healing

External factors that affect our energetic system include:

Things We Consume

The list of foreign invaders that the average person consumes, which attack the body’s energetic system, is legion.

Factors include:

Every foreign “agent” influences our energetic fields in various harmful ways.

Environment Factors

Our modern environments overload our natural frequencies, which block the natural flow of energy in and around the body:

• Problematic or “toxic” people or family members (e.g., narcissistic personalities)
• Difficult life circumstances (involving lack of money, shelter, and other unmet basic human needs)
• Non-native EMF from our devices, Wi-Fi, powerlines, cell towers, and the alternating current in the outlets and running through the wires in our walls.
• Artificial blue light from our devices, televisions, and indoor lighting.
• Plastic-based clothing like polyester and nylon
• Air pollution (including geoengineering)
• Light pollution
• Sound pollution

The emotions of others in our proximity, such as repressed anger, can influence our vibrations just as harmful electromagnetic radiation does.

Internal Factors that Block Self-Healing

It’s worth noting that from a Taoist perspective, approximately 95% of illness is psychosomatic. That is, emotional and mental factors are perceived as the root cause of most physical issues.

Internal factors include:

Generally, internal tensions hinder the flow of energy, leading to improper functioning over time. Issues tend to compound, leading to dis-ease, in one form or another.

It’s not about entirely removing all these internal and external factors (which is virtually impossible). Instead, it’s about becoming adept at navigating through them.

How to Practice Self-Healing: An Integrative Approach

From my experience, the best approaches to self-healing are integrative and preventative at their core. That is, they address numerous dimensions of the self simultaneously by using a variety of modalities and techniques to facilitate healing and restoration.

Ancient healing systems were integrative. For example, the ancient Indian system called Ayurvedic Medicine sought to balance body, mind, and spirit (consciousness). Healing modalities include making dietary changes, practicing yoga, taking herbal remedies, and engaging in meditation.

The ancient Taoists also employed a holistic system that encompassed meditation, stretching, standing, herbology, dietary adjustments, and energy-based practices.

I’m not advocating or promoting any particular system here; that’s up to the individual and their preferences. The main point is that when you engage in self-healing, do your best to address all relevant dimensions of your being. (This point will become more lucid as we continue below.)

Masculine Versus Feminine Approaches to Self-Healing

Masculine and feminine energies are different.

As such, the overall approach men and women may take can differ, too.

For example, masculine energy is characterized by its directness and straightforwardness. It can be forceful and focused with strong intent.

With masculine energy, you may “attack” the problem with an aggressive, multi-pronged approach to achieve a desired result.

In contrast, the feminine approach is softer, yielding, and more intuitive.

As the classic fairy tales illustrate, the feminine heals by going into the woods alone and being still.²See, for example, Robert A. Johnson’s The Fisher King and the Handless Maiden.

Because the psyche of men and women has both masculine and feminine aspects, both energies can be used by either sex at the appropriate time or stage.

Body-Mind Integration is the Way

One common mistake individuals make in their self-healing journey is to focus on one modality and think it’s “the answer.” I frequently made this mistake early in my journey.

Instead, approach self-healing from a more holistic perspective.

Illustration 1

For example, if you’re struggling with anxiety, you may be tempted to meditate (because you’ve been told that “meditation can reduce stress”).

However, meditating when you’re anxious can often increase anxiety. Meditating with anxiety is arguably masochistic.

Instead, you might be better off going for a run, a brisk walk, stretching, or doing strength training. Burn up some of that anxious energy first. Then, after you trigger some endorphins and calm down a bit, you can focus on your breathing and sit down to meditate.

Illustration 2

If you’re struggling with numerous intense emotions and seeking greater peace, you may be tempted to explore techniques such as the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), the Sedona Method, or the Releasing Technique. Popular methods like these promote the benefits of “freedom, peace, and happiness.”

However, when you’re out of control with unruly emotions, you’ve entirely lost your center. In such cases, methods like these often become repetitive, automatic, and largely ineffective.

In such cases, you may find it more fruitful to stand barefoot on the ground (earthing). This simple, body-oriented technique may be infinitely more effective than trying to “let go” or “release” your emotions or to “tap, tap, tap” your way out of the discontent.

Understanding Energy

I’ve found the understanding of energy to be essential to the process of self-healing.

In both of the above illustrations, the energetic component was the key. Remember, when the body’s energy system is open and fluid, self-healing becomes a viable and natural process. When the body’s energy is blocked, stagnant, or out of balance, dis-ease manifests.

It’s a simple, yet powerful framework that can serve you well.

Once you better understand the integral relationship between body, mind, emotions, and spirit, and how vital energy binds them all together, you’ll find yourself adjusting your approach with greater ease.

This energy perspective also helps explain why many self-healing techniques involve interaction with the natural world. Unlike our modern world filled with disharmonic and unnatural frequencies and fields, nature’s vibrations are more aligned with our natural state.

As such, when you immerse yourself in nature, by going into the woods, the mind often quiets down naturally without your effort.

The Self-Healing Journey Leads Inward

Eventually, the self-healing process brings us inward to a closer examination of ourselves: our hidden thoughts, aspirations, dreams, attitudes, and feelings.

We come to understand that our conscious personalities are not who we are, not in the slightest.

The psyche is built on opposites and opposition. We each have a whole cast of characters within our psyche, known as archetypes: some of these parts are familiar to us, while most remain unknown.

The trauma we experience in childhood scars the psyche, giving way to various shadow archetypes that influence our thoughts, emotions, attitudes, and behavior.

The process of becoming whole requires us to bring these shadow elements into the light of consciousness, leading to an acceptance of our past and present.

This is the essence of shadow work and a vital process in one’s self-healing journey.

Photo by Matt Hanns Schroeter

7 Suggestions for a Fruitful Self-Healing Journey

Here are seven tips and principles to consider along your journey:

Mine Your Shadow

Shadow work will likely become an essential part of your self-healing journey. I don’t personally see how an individual can move toward wholeness (healing) without first getting to know their shadow.

But this process is not right for everyone at the same time. It becomes most relevant in the second half of life, although many individuals engage in it before then.

Embrace the Negative

I know, the self-help literature tells us to “be positive.” Why should you embrace negativity? Because it’s there. And if you try to suppress it, ignore it, or play any other mind tricks with it, you’ll only make it stronger. (This valuable insight becomes undeniable when you do shadow work.)

Our cultural bias toward positivity is based on the assumption that we’re supposed to be happy. Why? Who said so? Is this human experience not filled with both light AND dark? (Look around.)

Often, the best way to heal negative emotions and attitudes is to turn towards them, embrace them, and even express them. Only then can they release on their own.

Evaluate Yourself Often

Ask yourself questions like:

• Where am I investing a lot of time and attention on things or people?
• What drains my energy?
• What charges me up?
• What am I investing in that’s not supporting my healing?
• What am I NOT doing that I believe will be most beneficial?

Pay attention to where you’re placing your energy, rather than letting external conditions and established habits dictate your daily life.

Establish New Habits Slowly

Establishing positive habits that support self-healing takes time. If you become overly ambitious and attempt to make changes too quickly, your efforts will most often be short-lived.

Instead, make small, incremental changes that move you toward your self-healing goals.

Accept Yourself

Fitting into this world comes at a significant cost. Only through doing inner work does one begin to appreciate the magnitude of this cost on one’s soul.

Regardless, wherever you are now, accept yourself as best you can, even the parts you find undesirable and wish to change.

Being too hard on yourself or comparing yourself to others tends to add needless suffering and stall self-healing.

Connect with an Inspiring Vision

It’s easy to become fixated on our problems, especially when they persistently demand our attention.

Clarify in your mind’s eye what you’re after. “Good health” is a nondescript term; it conveys little meaning. As such, it’s vital to clarify a personal vision.

• What’s your vision for your Future Self?
• What does self-healing look like for you?
• Do you feel vibrant?
• Full of energy?
• Resilient and adaptable?
• Ready to take on new challenges?

State your vision in the positive (meaning what you want, rather than what you don’t want). In your mind’s eye, see and feel what it looks like.

Pay Attention to Your Hidden Attitudes

How you approach self-healing is just as vital as what you do.

For example, you can do everything “right” but with the wrong attitude or subconscious intention, and you will fail (make little progress).

Conversely, you can achieve great results with a well-aligned attitude and intention, but minimal effort.

Detecting internal resistance and hidden attitudes requires a high level of self-awareness and inner honesty.

Photo by Didin Emelu

7 Warnings for Your Self-Healing Process

Here are seven tendencies and potential obstacles to watch out for:

Leaning on a Guru

Many individuals on their self-healing journey subconsciously seek out and cling to a “guru.”

I’m not just talking about a spiritual guru, but any kind of “health expert,” “master,” or “influencer.”

It can be beneficial to learn from others, but be wary of the psyche’s tendency to project your inner gold onto others.

Different healers may serve you at different points along your journey. But ultimately, you will need that internal power (inner gold) to help you heal.

Looking for Quick Fixes

Let go of needing things to change “now.”

Accept that many ailments and problems take time to heal. Having unrealistic expectations will create unnecessary anxiety and tension, setting you up to fail.

Searching for quick fixes will often waste more time, energy, and money and stall the process of genuine healing.

Listening to the Inner Critic

We all have numerous inner critics and sabotaging voices within our psyche.

Sometimes, the inner critic provides valuable data and perspectives, but most often, it hijacks our performance and intentions.

This guide on peak performance explains how to silence the inner critic when it arises..

Ignoring the Hypochondriac Part

As psychiatrist Carl Jung explained, the psyche is built on opposites. Most frequently, our conscious minds hold one attitude, while our unconscious counterpart holds a conflicting attitude.

In the case of self-healing, a conscious part of us (call it “ego”) wants to heal, while an unconscious part doesn’t. That unconscious part is sometimes referred to as the Hypochondriac.

This archetypal pattern is established during childhood and is more potent in some individuals than others. Children who received unhealthy attention and positive reinforcement when they were sick tend to have this pattern active within their psyches as adults.

The hypochondriac wants attention, not healing. If you are fully functioning and whole, this part cannot exist within you. As such, it may attempt to thwart your efforts for its agenda.

Confusing Knowledge with Execution

Individuals often immerse themselves in the quest for knowledge in the early stages of healing. This knowledge can dispel ignorance and lead to a better understanding and more life-supporting habits and behaviors.

However, make sure you’re not fixating on “knowing about” the problems; instead, consistently apply methods, techniques, and principles to realize the desired solution.

Neglecting Discernment

Discernment is a crucial component in an individual’s self-healing journey.

For example, as part of your journey, you may come to learn that much of “modern medicine” does not support genuine health and healing. Instead, it’s driven by profits over health.

As such, you may become skeptical of mainstream explanations and “solutions” for common problems.

However, many individuals will then go on to adopt various new-age belief systems and ideologies with the same lack of discernment and due diligence.

“Big pharma” may not be the answer, but that doesn’t mean healing crystals or positive affirmations are the solution either.

Always apply critical thinking, discernment, and intuition. That’s how you build your self-healing skill set.

Seeking Distraction

There’s always a part of us that resists change. We may consciously want to heal, but our current state of being is what we are familiar with.

As Abraham Maslow explained, we tend to fear the unknown and be driven toward safety (the known).

As such, it’s common to seek distraction, pleasure, and entertainment to avoid self-healing.

Distraction, in fact, has sadly become a way of life for many individuals. Distraction helps the individual maintain the “status quo” permanently.

Self-healing requires us to embrace the unknown and lean into discomfort.

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Ground Yourself with a Digital App?

Okay, so what I’m going to share with you now may sound like science fiction.

Eric Thompson is the founder of Subtle Energy Sciences. Using quantum resonance technology, Eric engineered a method of encoding digital images and sound files with specific energy signatures. The result is what he calls Digital Mandalas or Quantum Energy Apps, which combine beautiful digital art with layers of various energy-related sound technology.

Earth Pulse is a digital media program that broadcasts the amplified energetic signature of the Schumann Resonance (7.83 Hz cycles per second) through your electronic devices. The end result is that it makes you feel more grounded.

I always have at least one of Eric’s mandalas running on my computer and other devices (usually more than one). Earth Pulse is running on my desktop right now!

If you’re open to exploring new technologies, check out Earth Pulse.

Use code CEOSAGE30 for a 30% discount on Earth Pulse.

Now, if you don’t have energetic sensitivity, you may feel nothing at first. If that’s the case, Eric offers various ways to augment and optimize the effects.

(Disclaimer: affiliate link) 

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List of 75+ Self-Healing Techniques

What follows is a list of various self-healing techniques and practices available to you. This list is by no means exhaustive or definitive, but it should provide a sense of the variety of options available.

While these self-healing techniques are organized into relevant categories (discussed above), it is worth noting that many of these practices and methods address multiple modalities.

For example, while breathwork is a physical practice that offers numerous benefits for the body, it can also have a profound impact on our mental and emotional state.

Physical Techniques

Mental/Emotional Techniques

Energetic Methods

Spiritual Practices

How to Start Your Self-Healing Journey

To my knowledge, there’s no universally “best” self-healing path. Everyone is unique based on their values, strengths, weaknesses, personality profile, childhood trauma, and other factors.

If there was one thing I could recommend to someone at the early or middle stage of self-healing, it’s this:

Slow down!

Most of us tend to move way too fast. Our cultural values of fitting in, competing, and achieving lead us to focus exclusively on the external world and move fast to “get things done.”

Self-healing requires significant time to observe ourselves and process emotions, feelings, memories, and conflicting attitudes.

While there are no quick fixes, “spontaneous healing” is a real phenomenon. However, it tends not to come through effort or will, but through surrender and acceptance. We can’t accept what we haven’t observed or brought to consciousness.

We can subconsciously thwart the natural healing process by moving too quickly and ignoring our internal terrain.

But when we begin to slow down and pay attention within, the self-organization process begins to manifest. Sometimes it’s slow initially. Over time, your willingness, earnestness, and intent help coax the process along, as the pieces come back into place.

Each step, however small, brings you closer to wholeness.

Books Related to Self-Healing

The Biology of Belief by Bruce Lipton

How to Be an Adult by David Richio

Inner Work by Robert A. Johnson

Untethered Soul by Michael Singer

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