The truth is, we don’t always realize how the pain from our past is influencing us today. This is especially true when we consider childhood adversities. Whether it’s emotional neglect, being raised in poverty, constant criticism, or humiliation, these early experiences shape the way we see ourselves—and not for the better. They often leave us carrying the weight of insecurity, a burden many of us bear without even knowing where it truly comes from.
The harsh reality is that while we can’t change the past, we also often fail to change how the past is still affecting us. Childhood trauma leaves behind emotional scars that say, “I’m not good enough,” or “If I could be like [someone else], maybe I could be loved.” We get trapped in a cycle of comparison, constantly feeling like we’re falling short of some invisible standard, rarely giving ourselves the grace to just be. This way of thinking prevents us from feeling content and at peace with who we are.
But here’s the truth: You were made for something bigger than this.
The experiences of your past can shape you, yes, but they don’t have to define you from a place of pain. Instead, they can empower you. Let me explain.
The power of your past, and the pain it brought, was lent to the very people or experiences that hurt you. These experiences likely came from imperfect people who themselves were wounded. They acted from their own weakness, their own fear, and their own struggles. The pain they caused was real, but so is the strength you’ve shown in enduring and surviving it.
You are stronger than the pain they inflicted.
You get to choose to stop giving power to the hurt and instead, start reclaiming it. You may not always feel it, but the strength that has carried you through is greater than any strength those who hurt you ever had. It’s time to reconnect with that strength. The fact that you’ve survived, that you’re still standing, means that you have a power that is yours alone.
I invite you to get more familiar with you—the person who has endured, the person who existed before the pain, and the person who is still here. That version of you, the one who dreams of better, is entirely possible.
Start by envisioning the version of yourself that makes you smile. Who is this person? What do they stand for? Picture that version of yourself each day and give yourself time to reconnect with that vision. As you start this journey of self-discovery, you’ll begin to walk a new road—one where your head is held high, and where you embrace the confidence that comes from understanding your true worth.
Healing is a journey, and it starts with curiosity. I encourage you to explore who you are, not just through the lens of pain, but through the lens of possibility. That’s why I’ve created the Curiosity Toolkit—a guide designed to help you explore yourself, get to the root of your insecurities, and rediscover the strength you’ve had all along.
Click here to get your Curiosity Toolkit and begin your journey to self-discovery today.
