The Upward Spiral

By Cassie Connor Mar 26, 2025

I’m going to be bold and guess that you know about the downward spiral. But incase you don’t, it often goes something like this: we didn’t sleep well, now we are running late and rushing, we miss the bus, it starts to rain. On a bigger scale: we are burnt out and overworking, we get sick, we can’t do said job at all anymore, let alone efficiently, everything falls down, everything must be reevaluated. On a bigger scale: we defund education, elect a lunatic, education itself is cancelled.

My point is: unpleasant events stack up and compound. This is true with trauma as well. For example, a major predictor for PTSD is past traumatic experiences. Complex trauma is generally more impactful and harder to heal because the traumatic event was not a “one-off”, it has repeated and compounded and impacted our experience of the world itself. It can feel very bleak to be in the downward spiral, as if we are doomed to feel this way forever.

But, here’s the good news: The upward spiral also exists. Experiences of safety, care and connection also compound (oh, thank god). Healing happens in a million tiny moments that show us another possibility exists: we end up in a loving relationship after years of abusive ones. We choose to rest when we’re used to pushing ourselves. We write a poem when we’re used to having a drink. We quit our toxic job and build the life of our dreams. We start to have more energy now that we more intentionally meet our nutritional needs. Months of therapy start to pay off. You see what I mean?

Listen, I know there is so much influencing our lives that we don’t always have personal control over, such as the oppressive structures of this world we live in. These limitations are real, and not your fault. Yet, what choices do we have? What would it look like to reach for healing and wholeness in the million tiny choices that we do have available? What can we do with the power we do have? 

How might these little moments stack up and change the trajectory of our lives, and the lives of those around us?

Let me remind us - healing is not linear, and change does not happen all at once. It’s gradual, often messy, sometimes painful. May we reach for the support that we need and continue anyways.

[REFLECT]

  • What in my life is ending/changing/dying out? What do I want to leave behind?

  • How do I want to feel? What am I inviting in? What seeds am I planting?

  • What are my sources of care, connection, support, joy and nourishment? People, places, things, practices, etc…

  • What gifts do I have to offer my community? This could be as small as your inner circle, and as big as the global community, and everywhere in between.

[PRACTICE]

Let’s find ways to remind ourselves of the changes we’re making and why. Every morning, I sit at my altar full of reminders of what I’m practicing. For you, it could be sticky notes, creating art, journalling, affirmations, talking to friends about it, etc.

Then, we act! Big or small, we bring the life and world we want into reality by making choices that bring our dreams to life. When we’re feeling stuck and want to get unstuck, we can move, get outside, break up our patterning however we can. 

Be patient with yourself along the way.

[RESOURCES]

  • I made us a playlist to accompany us on our healing journey. Listen to “UPWARD SPIRAL” here.

  • I mention the book “Rest is Resistance” by Tricia Hershey in my audio here, highly recommend! I listened to the audiobook and it was delightful.

  • If you’re interested in exploring astrology, I highly recommend the CHANI app, and her “Astrology of the Week Ahead” podcast.

  • If you need some support working through what is coming up for you in this time, I offer holistic trauma therapy integrating yoga therapy and psychotherapy for healing on all levels: body, energy, heart-mind, intuition and spirit. Email me at cassie@shinementalhealth.co and we can set up a free 15min consultation call. 

  • If you’re looking for something beautiful to look forward to, I invite you to join us on the Joyous Body retreat July 14th-18th at Nectar Yoga. The plan is to move, rest, laugh, cry, dance, reflect, and meditate in the forest with our Nest community.