In the last several years, I’ve prioritized growth and healing. I’ve been through a lot. I was so far from who I really am, stuck playing the roles other people in my life wanted me to play. I made decisions based on everyone else’s opinions and direction, never my own. Traumatizing events in my preteen, teen, and young adult years shaped me into someone completely out of touch with my own desires, heart, mind, and body. I didn’t know who I was.
I didn’t know how to smile for a picture. I took pride in never crying. I built a hard exterior, yet people constantly described me as bubbly and funny. Some even told me I was the happiest person they’d ever met, but really, I was living on autopilot.
Over time, everything I was pushing down finally started to erupt. I felt like I was falling apart. I didn't feel well. I was nauseous. I'd cry before going to work but didn't know why. The realization of everything I needed to address finally hit me. Metaphorically, I had been tossing every experience - every trauma, every true need and desire - into the backseat and just kept driving. Eventually, life slammed on the brakes, and it all came crashing forward.
That’s what finally made me seek help. My need for change was bursting at the seams. I did everything I could - I went to therapy, I consumed self-help books and podcasts, I found a mentor. It was messy, painful, and difficult. But now, at this point along the ride, I’m beginning to know who I am, what I want, and what truly matters to me. I’m finally living for me.
And I like who I am.
For the first time, I feel safer in my own body. The process has been huge, and I’m grateful I started it. But what I didn’t realize was how much this journey would alter my relationships. When I began to see things clearly, I also saw what wasn’t working. Now that I know what I align with, I recognize what doesn’t align. And when what doesn't align ended up being people close to me, my job, my life - changes started being made.
But nobody asked me to change.
I'm told they miss the “old me.” Some relationships have become distant and difficult, while others have grown closer and more loving. Learning to love, trust, and be close with myself has also allowed me to feel more connected to others than ever before. To be able to actually feel, process and continue had life feeling more precious - but also more painful.
Right now, I feel like I don’t have a family. I know I have a chosen family - I have an amazing partner and incredible friends - but sometimes, I still feel very alone. The people who have been around me my whole life suddenly don’t seem to know me at all. Now that I finally have an idea of who she is, I see the world differently.
I see people differently.
I see them in a softer light, with more empathy. I understand that how people act isn’t about me; it’s about what they’ve been through, the things that shaped them, the wounds they haven’t healed. Many of them likely haven’t even met themselves yet.
And while I have compassion for that, I also know this: Understanding someone’s “why” doesn’t excuse their behavior. Trauma isn’t a hall-pass to mistreat others. I sometimes find myself at a crossroads - seeing people more deeply, having more patience, empathy, and forgiveness for them - yet realizing that where they are no longer aligns with where I am.
And more often than not, there’s no sign they even want to get on the ride.
So I keep driving.
Except now, I’m not cluttering my backseat - I’m putting things where they belong. Even if it means pulling over and throwing some things away. Sometimes it builds up, but now I know how to clear it out.
I know I will be on this ride for my whole life, but for the first time, I'm in the drivers seat, and the road ahead is mine.
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These are 50 affirmations to assist you on the healing journey. You can pick one to work with, you can work with them all, or if none of these resonate, begin to think about what you do want to affirm about yourself and write your own!
Everyone wants to feel validated. It’s human nature to want to feel accepted by others. We all want to know that how we think, feel, and act is justified. We don’t want to feel crazy or alone. In the age of AI, instant validation is quite literally in the palm of our hand.
You're not failing at your healing journey. You're drowning in information overload. It’s no secret that healing is trending. With an abundance of resources combined with the accessibility of social media, there’s never been a better opportunity for personal growth. But healing isn’t a “gotta catch ‘em all” process.
Grounding is a very helpful practice that can support you throughout your healing journey. Grounding refers to techniques that help us reconnect with the present moment, especially when we feel anxious, overwhelmed, or triggered. It’s also useful when negative flashbacks, unwanted memories, or stressful thoughts arise.
The roller coaster of relationships in your 20s is quite the ride. As someone deep in my healing journey for almost five years, it’s been interesting to reflect on. From partners to family to friends, so much changes - including yourself.
Long-term grief - It’s been over 10 years since my dad died, and the grief is still present. This is how I would describe my grieving process after 12 years without him. Sometimes I think I understand the cycles of grief.
Attachment issues have been a popular interest in the healing space over the past several years. While it’s great that we’re now aware of the topic and its effect on our behavior, we seem to be reaching a counterintuitive level of awareness. They’ve almost become a part of our identity. Instead of using them to understand each other, we’re using them to remain misunderstood.
As a survivor of rape, I wrote these gentle affirmations to support your journey healing from sexual assault and rape. Healing takes time, self-love, and deep compassion. May these words remind you: you are worthy of feeling safe, loved, and powerful.
I have a big heart. I get my feelings hurt a lot. I care deeply. And that’s okay. I love my big heart and the way I love and care for others. But mixed in with that love is some clutter - things I sometimes disguise as sensitivity or kindness. People-pleasing. Approval-seeking. That kind of clutter.
Choosing our core values is a way to align our lives with what matters most to us. When we know our core values, we can make decisions that reflect who we are and who we want to become.
Worry is inevitable. Our minds latch onto problems the moment they arise, and before we can acknowledge it, we are spiraling into stress, anxiety, and overwhelm. A worry chart is a simple, quick & effective way to rewire the brain to respond differently to life’s challenges.
There was a point along my healing journey where I realized self-love was a very important missing piece. In a society that teaches us to be hard on ourselves, I came to understand that it was my responsibility to unlearn and re-teach myself. Our mothers and fathers were taught these beliefs, which were passed down - consciously or not.
“What am I doing with my life?”
My therapist smiles. “You ask this question every week. It’s too big. A life is a long time. It must feel stressful always worrying about this.”
She’s right. It does feel stressful, and also daunting. But then why can’t I let it go?
Let’s be honest, journaling can become a tedious task on the healing journey. Sometimes instead of helping, it becomes one more thing on the to-do list. This can feel stressful or overwhelming, which is the opposite of what we are trying to achieve.
I remember a time not too long ago where every single day I lived with deep anxiety, fear, regret and uncertainty. I often asked myself if I would feel this way forever. I asked people for their perspective, wondering if it was possible to go a full day without ruminating on thoughts or memories that pulled me down.
Choosing myself isn’t always the easy answer. It often feels like the toughest choice to make. I like helping others, and making others happy. Why should I choose myself? Isn’t that being selfish? But recently, someone told me - ‘how can you help others if you won’t help yourself first?’ The truth stung.
Let hard things soften you. Sometimes I think life tries to send us messages. Sometimes they come as gentle nudges, other times they hit like a freight train. If we ignore the subtle hints, they tend to come back louder and impossible to miss. Over the last year or so, one message has kept resurfacing for me: release control. It’s shown up in different ways, over and over again.
Currently, I am outgrowing who I thought I was. And let me tell you, it’s uncomfortable. What does it mean when you outgrow who you thought you were? When you outgrow who you thought you were, it means you’re growing and evolving from a version of yourself that no longer aligns with who you are becoming. It feels like people, goals, and daily routines no longer bring you the satisfaction or joy they once did.
Sometimes I have to remind myself: other people don’t determine my value - I do.
With the nature of my work, I spend a lot of time around people. Big groups, small groups, social settings of all kinds. And sometimes, I catch myself wondering if I fit in. If I’m good enough. If people even notice I'm there.
The other day on TikTok, I saw a video of a girl sitting in her car talking herself through the anxiety she felt about having to go to an event. I thought back to situations where I felt the same way and saw how I also tend to talk myself through these situations. I realized small actions can help us move through situations that trigger anxiety.
After that all I could think about was what happened to me when I was a teenager. It was clear I didn’t have a choice anymore. This part of me was not going anywhere. That’s how I found myself talking to a new therapist on a farm. I had chosen equine therapy for two reasons. One, I had heard that working with animals could help me to trust people again. And two, I thought I may be able to skip right over the speaking about the horrible thing that I labeled all my fault, and just ride horses.
Recently, I have found myself on the verge of burnout. Balancing work and personal responsibilities has felt overwhelming at times, as though I am neglecting myself in order to keep up with everyday tasks. Sometimes it feels like life has become less about living and more about keeping up with the piling responsibilities. Here are 7 Simple Ways to Manage Stress -
I was eighteen, and I would have sworn I was in love.
But, was love supposed to be inconsistent, painful, and confusing? And could I truly love someone else if I didn’t yet love myself?
I started dating my first boyfriend—let’s call him Calvin—when I was a senior in high school.
Welcome to this gentle guided meditation designed to help you release what no longer serves you and step into the energy of new beginnings. In this session, I’ll walk you through a calming process of letting go—whether it’s a thought, emotion, habit, or chapter of life—and then guide you in planting the seeds for a fresh start. Together, we’ll create space in your mind and heart for clarity, growth, and transformation.
There’s a cliché that says, “You can’t pour from an empty cup.” Lately, I’ve come to understand this in a new way.
Filling your cup is an art, and it looks different for everyone. For me, it’s a mix of alone time, quality moments with loved ones, play, fun, rest, movement and nourishing meals. It also means living more consciously - recognizing when I’m giving someone a heavy pour with no end in sight.
“Ma’am your bag will not fit in the overhead bins, you’ll have to check it.” Says an indifferent airline employee as I hand her my ticket to get on my flight from Los Angeles to Toronto.
“Are you sure?” I plead.
“Yes. Please step aside.” My palms are sweaty. My voice stammers. I feel a lump in my throat. My breathe becomes more and more shallow. This bag has to fit on this flight.
I’m at a point in my healing journey where I’m much more aware of things... painfully aware of things, sometimes. It’s a good thing to be aware - it shows me what needs to change - but it can also be deeply uncomfortable.
I notice when someone isn’t a good communicator. I see who struggles to hold themselves accountable. I can read between the lines of people’s words, actions, or lack thereof.
Welcome to this guided meditation for Energy Cleansing.
Whether you’re feeling weighed down by stress, negative energy, feeling disconnected, or simply seeking an energetic refresh, this guided meditation is here to support you. Through gentle guidance and intentional breathing, this practice is designed to help you release what no longer serves you and reconnect with a sense of clarity, peace, and inner balance.
Sometimes I think about what I could say if I had my past self in front of me. As I've grown, let go, healed, experienced new things: I think of how much of what I know now that I would love to teach her.
Welcome to this affirmation meditation for the healing journey.
Whether you're just beginning your healing journey or continuing your path toward emotional wellness, this short guided meditation is here to support you. Filled with healing affirmations, this practice is designed to help you affirm how you want to feel and cultivate self-love and inner peace.