Healing Isn't What I Thought It Was - And That's Okay

Hey Tribe, 

I'll let you in on a little something I've come to learn the long way: 15 years ago, I didn't really know what healing meant. I used to think it was something divine that just happened; like if you prayed enough, the pain would disappear. But healing, I've learned, is far more human than that. 

It is sitting with the hard stuff. It's learning to give compassion to the parts of us that are still hurting. It's choosing to respond to triggers with curiosity instead of shame. And it is also finding new tools - new ways of thinking - that help us move through the world with a little more peace. 

When I left the group, I was born into, I didn't realise that the very place I was walking away from was also the place I'd need to heal from the most. That grief? It was my first real heartbreak; and I wasn't prepared for it. 

Starting over meant doing a lot of things alone. I didn't have the language to explain what I had been through, and I carried so much shame that I often led with anger instead. I didn't know how to navigate the world - literally. I had no clue about catching a bus or train. I needed guidance, not abandonment. The real world felt like a Rubik's Cube I didn't know how to solve. 

But slowly, with time and support from people who showed up in their own ways, I began to find my footing. I'm still learning. I'm still healing. And no, not every part of my life feels peaceful; but I've come a long way. 

When I look back at the chapters that brought me here, I can say with confidence: I'm not the same person I was when I left. And I'm proud of that. 

If sharing these pieces of my story helps even one person feel less alone, then it's worth it. 

Let's keep breaking those chains together. 

With love, 
Lauren 
Founder, Breaking Chains Tribe