Most people who have chosen the path of self-actualization — where you seek to reach your full potential in all areas of your life — have likely encountered the moving words of a breathing coach, restorative writing teacher, and NYT best-selling author Alex Elle. For nearly a decade she has shared her healing journey through a collection of poetry books, prompts-run journals and self-care workbooks. She offers in-person workshops and classes (she is currently a teacher-in-residence at Civana wellness resort and spa), and retreats for more hands-on learning. With almost 1.5 million followers on social media, Elle is an open book. Followers watch her grow as she enters each new phase of her life. From her first book, Words From a Wanderer — a compilation of poems and love notes to herself — to her latest, How We Heal: Uncover Your Power and Set Yourself Free ($18), the wife and mother has three offerings Readers a chance to see what healing on purpose looks like.
In “How We Heal,” Elle guides readers through her healing journeys, weaving personal anecdotes, journaling suggestions, and practices throughout the book. Across four sections — “Starting From Scratch,” “Befriending Your Fear,” “Reclaiming Your Power,” and “Healing Your Heart” — readers follow a roadmap to connecting with their inner child. The journey begins with understanding and choosing self-forgiveness, which Elle told POPSUGAR “requires softness that I feel like many of us weren’t raised to tap into.”
@popsugarwellness What do you do when you feel anxious? #AlexElle #Mental health #Fear #breathing techniques
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Elle calls self-forgiveness a “radical act of self-love” as it leaves room for new beginnings and writing a new narrative. “Self-forgiveness is a difficult decision,” she says. “And if we give ourselves permission to do that, a softening will happen over time. Deeper love happens within us, and then we can truly express ourselves in the world in a way that is more intentional and choice-based.” With many Black women entering their gentle epochs in life—choosing to protect their self-care and theirs Prioritizing happiness while denouncing the “strong black woman” archetype as defined by tick tock — “How We Heal” takes the aesthetics of social media and becomes a hands-on guide to empowering lifestyles.
A fellowship’s impact during the healing phase is continuous in How We Heal. In addition to her own anecdotes, Elle includes the stories of 13 influential women widely known for their conscious commitment to healing, including Glennon Doyle, Megan Rapinoe, Tabitha Brown, Nneka Julia, and Chriselle Lim. “Every woman in this book inspires me in some way, and I went for her wisdom and emotional support in some way,” says Elle. “I chose the 13 women in this book because each of their stories is so different, but the underlying message is the same.”
Elle especially praises dr topic Bryant for her commitment to healing and empowerment through the merging of the sciences of psychology and theology. “She focuses her own truth and story on how she appears either in the pulpit or in a session with a client, and that’s just lovely to me,” says Elle. “Because that’s healing — when we can bear our souls and also be able to say, ‘Yes, this hurts, and that may have been a hard place, but joy is possible.'” Elle emphasizes this feeling in the book’s tagline: “When we heal ourselves, we heal our lineage. Healing is an act of caring for the community.”
Elle also emphasizes the benefits of being in contact with our physical body for a holistic approach to healing using meditation, naps, various mindfulness breathing techniques and daily walks. “For me, walking is a self-soothing tool. It’s a place where I literally feel like I’m holding myself,” Elle says, comparing the activity to being cuddled like a newborn. “I go for a walk to process. I walk to explore. I go for a walk to get lost. I go for walks to find myself and like all this serves me in a way where I don’t need to know where I’m walking. And I can still glean something deeply nourishing from that walk.” Yes, walking can feel daunting in winter. Despite this, Elle makes choices about her diet and finds the motivation because “diet choices heal.” She talks more about the benefits of walking on her podcast “That Morning Walk” In a relationship with Libby Delana.
How We Heal gives readers permission to fall in love with themselves, connect with their inner child, and chart a not-so-straight path to introspection. However, as Elle states, “healing is an everlasting love,” so readers are encouraged to continue the journey even when self-doubt or fear stands in the way. For those moments, Elle has a simple mantra when doing her own breathwork: “This is my breath. I live. I’m not dead. I can breathe.
This interview has been edited and shortened for clarity. “How We Heal: Discover Your Power and Break Free” by Alex Elle is in bookstores now.
Image Source: Courtesy of Alex Elle