Lowering the Shield: Healing Beyond the Guard

Our bodies are like warriors on the battlefield—when injured, they instinctively raise a shield, guarding the wound to prevent further harm. This reflex is a gift, signaling the brain that danger exists and offering protection in the moment of vulnerability. But if the shield stays raised too long, the muscles holding it grow stiff, the weight of constant defense becomes burdensome, and the wound beneath doesn't heal properly.

A few months ago, I sustained a shoulder injury while hiking. I wrote about that journey here: The Spirit of a Warrior. Over time, the injury became more painful, and my range of motion grew increasingly restricted. An MRI revealed a light tear in the labrum of my shoulder, and as a result of the initial trauma, the surrounding muscles began involuntarily guarding the injury. This natural response, meant to protect, has instead contributed to further pain and stiffness. I’ve decided to pursue natural healing methods, hoping to avoid surgical repair, and today, as I laid face down on my acupuncturist’s table, I couldn’t help but reflect on how life mirrors this process so beautifully.

In times of emotional pain or hardship, we often guard ourselves in similar ways. We raise shields to protect our hearts and minds, creating boundaries that give us space to process and recover. These shields are necessary acts of survival, offering us refuge in moments of vulnerability. But if we hold them up too long, they can leave us rigid and weighed down, with unresolved wounds festering beneath the surface. True healing begins when we acknowledge the pain, lower the shield, and allow ourselves the chance to stretch, breathe, and grow again.

I’ve witnessed firsthand the risks of holding that shield up indefinitely. When I do, I burn out quickly. I get in my own way. I fall into a hole that feels impossible to climb out of. My spirit becomes rigid and stiff, losing its flexibility and range of motion. I tense up, holding on to every hurt and worry, and the weight of it all feels crushing.

This year has undoubtedly been a hard one. As we near the final days of 2024, I find myself not only working to heal my shoulder but also striving to heal myself from the year—to sit with all the emotions that have surfaced, to release them, to take risks, and to embrace the process of stretching, breathing, and growing again. Because the alternative—to live in constant pain and stiffness, to remain guarded and immobile—is not a life I’m willing to settle for.

Healing, whether physical or emotional, is not linear. It requires patience, vulnerability, and the courage to release the tension we’ve been holding. It asks us to trust that even without the shield, we are strong enough to face what lies ahead. As I work to restore the range of motion in my shoulder, I’m reminded to restore the range of motion in my spirit—to loosen the grip of fear and rigidity, to trust the process of growth, and to reclaim the freedom that comes with lowering the shield.

Life is an ever-evolving journey of learning when to protect and when to let go. While our shields serve a purpose in moments of pain and vulnerability, true strength lies in knowing when to lower them. Healing asks us to trust—in ourselves, in the process, and in the possibility of something better beyond the pain. By embracing this balance, we open the door to growth, flexibility, and the freedom to live fully once more. Let this be the season to lower your shield and reclaim your power to heal.

What shields have you been holding up in your own life, and how might lowering them create space for healing and growth?