The only way ahead is through. Through facing pain, feeling emotions, and validating our lived experiences. So often, I hear language that invalidates pain, emotions, and experiences. Phrases like “well I’ve never had to struggle for a roof over my head, so I can’t complain” or “so many other people have it so much worse than me”.

When you’re on the pursuit of self-development or healing, what you’re really pursuing is a perpetual state of unlearning. Unlearning what was taught to you by society. What was taught by your structured education, your jobs, your parents, your friends, your acquaintances, the media, and the internet.

Darling, you don’t know who you could be if you just gave yourself the opportunity. If you allowed yourself to step out of what you know and try something new. Or even to see things from a different perspective. My biggest breakthroughs have been in the moments where I allowed myself to expand.