Intimacy – Discovering the Relationship with Yourself

Recently, I spent a few days in a Christian monastery. I have known this place for many years and always enjoy escaping the noisy routine of daily life in Berlin to immerse myself in the peace and silence of the monastery.

During my stay, I strolled into the small bookstore to browse the displayed titles. One book caught my eye immediately: it was titled Intimacy. Amused to find a title like that in a monastery, I opened it and began reading carefully. Once again, I was pleasantly surprised. The author spoke primarily about intimacy with oneself—an inner closeness that makes true connection to others, as well as faith, possible in the first place.

In my work with patients, I frequently experience these deeply personal, almost intimate moments where people move closer to themselves on their path to healing—finding an inner truth and honesty within. These moments of self-intimacy are profoundly moving and genuine. Just yesterday, a long-term patient shared that she never would have believed how many facets and layers within her would come to light during her healing journey. When she first began treatment, she hadn't anticipated entering such a deep voyage of self-discovery.

This intimacy with oneself requires courage—the courage to discover new aspects of who we are, including the parts we might not love as much. Through illness, our body, mind, and spirit indirectly invite us to move closer to ourselves again, learning to recognize and embrace new aspects of our being.

When we allow ourselves to listen closely, healing can unfold. In those moments, illness can even become a gift—guiding us forward on our path and offering invaluable personal insight.

I wish you many such intimate moments, both with yourself and with others.