Irimi: Turning Towards

I love the Japanese word Irimi, which I came across in my reading. It describes the act of moving towards or entering in, rather than stepping back.

What It Means in Therapy

For me, Irimi beautifully captures something at the heart of the therapeutic experience. Therapy can invite us to move towards what is difficult, rather than continuing to avoid it, as we may have learned to do over time.

This might mean gently turning towards:

·        grief

·        fear

·        anger

·        the parts of ourselves we have learned to hide, silence, or protect

When Protection Becomes Stuckness

Avoidance can make complete sense. It may have helped us survive, cope, or keep going. Yet sometimes, what once protected us can begin to keep us stuck.

A Different Possibility

Therapy offers a different possibility: to approach what is difficult slowly, safely, and with compassion. Not by forcing ourselves into the storm, and not by overwhelming ourselves with what hurts, but by turning towards it together, with curiosity and care.

The Way Through

Perhaps healing is not always about finding a way around the storm. Sometimes, it is about finding the courage and support to turn towards it.

Irimi.

A beautiful reminder that sometimes the way through is towards.