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Valuing Processing: Why Processing with the right people is the key to your breakthrough

A friend recently was telling me about an exercise they did helping them identify their values. It made me think about how I have a high value for processing. I believe recognizing the value in processing is severly underrated and underutilized as a key for breakthrough.  


You know how when something significant, exciting, or even painful happens to you and you feel like you just need to process it with someone? So you can dissect the details, and ultimately make meaning of that event in your life? That’s processing. 


Processing is about being present in the process – and not just rushing to get to the destination. 

It’s about taking the time to work through what needs to be worked through. It’s not about putting bandaids on the problem, quick fixes, or taking shortcuts in your character development. 


Processing requires time. It requires the processee and the processor to be willing to take the time necessary to work through the thing.


We are often in such a rush. We think we don’t have time to do these things. We don’t think we have enough time to give to someone. Sometimes that’s true – but oftentimes it’s not. 


Oftentimes we just don’t value the process of processing itself. We don’t understand how valuable it is for our own sanity and for the wellbeing of those around us.  


It’s the one thing we all need, but so rarely do. Either because we have walls up, we don’t trust people, or we think we just don’t have time to sit and process through what happened to us. 


But it's the one thing that catalyzes growth the most. 

How do I know? Because the past few years, as I’ve navigated through healing from pain, rejection, grief, trauma, and betrayal, I have needed people to process with. I have the deepest respect and highest gratitude for those that have helped me process through the pain in different seasons. You know who you are! Processing with people, has been the key to healing, breakthrough, and freedom in my life. 


One of the benefits of processing is that it brings clarity about both what you’re presently walking through, and where you’re headed in the future.