The Jar of Life: Why Healing Makes Us Feel Worse Before We Feel Better

Inspired by a powerful visual demonstration from @mind.psy.guidance on Instagram

Have you ever started making positive changes in your life, only to feel like everything is getting worse instead of better? You're not alone, and there's a fascinating reason why.

Imagine a clear glass jar. This jar represents your life. Now, let's add some ping pong balls – each one representing something you've carried with you: old beliefs that limit you, judgments from others who said you couldn't change, inherited money stories that keep you stuck, perhaps an addiction or disordered eating patterns, or trauma from your past. These balls sit quietly at the bottom of your jar, just as these issues often sit quietly in our subconscious, influencing our daily lives in ways we don't always recognize.

But then you decide to make a change. You start pouring in water – crystal clear water representing new knowledge, healthy habits, spiritual connection, and personal growth. Something unexpected happens: as you pour in this "good stuff," all those ping pong balls that were sitting quietly at the bottom start rising to the surface. They become more visible, more present, more disruptive than ever before.

This is where many of us stop. We think, "Everything is getting worse! This isn't working!" But here's the truth about transformation:

1. Disruption is Part of Healing

When we begin to heal, we disturb the comfortable patterns we've created – even the harmful ones. Just as those ping pong balls rise to the surface with the water, our old wounds, behaviors, and beliefs become more apparent when we start doing the work of healing. This isn't a sign of failure; it's a sign of movement.

2. The Foundation Matters More Than the Float

Notice that while the ping pong balls are rising and creating chaos at the surface, the clear water is building a solid foundation at the bottom. This represents the new neural pathways, healthy habits, and wisdom you're developing. Even when things feel chaotic, this foundation is growing stronger.

3. Persistence Changes the Game

If you keep pouring in the good stuff – therapy, mentorship, education, spiritual practice, self-care – eventually, those ping pong balls that represent your old patterns will reach the top. And once they're at the top, they can finally be removed. But this only happens if you keep going, especially when it's uncomfortable.

The journey of personal transformation isn't about avoiding discomfort; it's about understanding that discomfort often signals important change. When you feel like everything is surfacing at once, remember the jar. Remember that what's rising to the top isn't new – it was always there. Now you're just strong enough to face it.

Are you ready to keep pouring in the good, even when it feels like everything is floating to the surface? Your jar is waiting to be filled with something new.

Sending you strength for your journey,

XOXO
Jill