Soul Healing and Nachum Ish Gam Zu

Tikkun Hanefesh (Soul Healing)

Tikkun Hanefesh, or soul healing, is a natural part of the human experience that can occur at various points in life. To go through a Tikkun means embracing the opportunity to shed old layers and step into the next version of oneself.

When we heal our nefesh (soul), we become more attuned to the life force within us. In other cultures, this life force is known as qi, prana, or vitality. Like a muscle, our awareness of this life force can be strengthened. With this awareness, we can experience greater stability, calm, and trust in the Rebono Shel Olam, the Creator of the World. Through this lived experience, each person can become more in tune with their role in the process of Tikkun Olam—healing the world. As Rabbi Tarfon teaches in Pirkei Avot (Chapter 2, Mishnah 16):

"You are not obligated to finish the whole task, and you are also not free to neglect it."

Moving through life with a settled body is challenging. Moving through conflict with a settled body is even more radical. While this is not an easy goal, it is a profoundly worthwhile one. Real healing begins within our families, communities, and extends outward. Engaging with others while embodying a settled presence helps those around us to settle as well. Over time, if enough individuals heal from intergenerational and personal trauma, a culture of harmony, resilience, and flow can emerge. This is not abstract or idealistic—it is real, practical work.

At a basic level, we are conditioned to constrict and contract our bodies out of fear, often to protect ourselves from the unknown. In today’s world, this contraction often arises from misunderstanding or lack of exposure to those who are different from ourselves. If we could see each other’s souls, we would recognize the divine spark that unites us all.

Until that day, we can work with neuroception—the brain’s subconscious threat detector—to become aware of how it shapes our experience. Slowly, we can rewire our brains to notice cues of safety instead of danger.

Society, the powers that be, and the media often unsettle our bodies more than they help us settle. In many ways, the system is set up against our natural equilibrium.

Though I am trained primarily in talk therapy, my work has expanded to include holistic, energy-based, and somatic techniques. The body carries a story that the mind alone cannot fully access.

"The body remembers what the mind forgets." —Jacob L. Moreno, MD, founder of psychodrama

Stress and Resilience

Resilience in the nervous system is built through experience. A resilient, adaptable, and flexible nervous system needs to face stress, challenges, and even failure. When people are pushed outside their comfort zones, their nervous systems can learn to function more effectively under pressure—provided they have time to fully recover.

"Most of us have been taught to believe that stress is bad… But the truth is, when stress can be managed, it tends to be very good and even necessary for health and growth. Without it, the mind and body weaken. If we learn to harness stress, it can serve as a catalyst for developing greater strength and wisdom."—Steven M. Southwick, M.D., and Dennis S. Charney, Resilience: The Science of Mastering Life’s Greatest Challenges

Some people naturally bounce back more easily than others. Knowing oneself deeply—including triggers and limitations—is essential for true healing. Viktor Frankl’s logotherapy outlines a hierarchy leading to self-actualization: physiological needs, safety, love, esteem, and finally, meaning and purpose. Self-actualization does not exclude suffering; in fact, growth often arises through struggle.

Nachum Ish Gam Zu, who lived around the time of the Second Temple, earned his name by saying, “Gam Zu L’tova”—“this too is for the good.” Judaism teaches that there is meaning in struggle, ultimately for the individual’s benefit. While consistently maintaining this perspective is challenging, beginning with the body and moving upward toward self-regulation allows us to embody the principle of Gam Zu L’tova.

Shely Esses, LMFT,RMFT,RP(Qualifying), AST & Spiritual Healer