Healing is rarely one feeling at a time.

Healing is often misunderstood as a linear process where you feel one emotion at a time, but my personal experience shows it’s much more intricate. Missing someone doesn’t automatically mean regret or that your decision was wrong. It means that person had a genuine impact on your life, and that connection was meaningful. I’ve found that acknowledging this truth is crucial in emotional healing. In my journey, I realized that grieving and moving forward are not mutually exclusive. I could feel sadness for what was lost and still make choices that prioritise my well-being and growth. This duality — loving what was but refusing to return to what hurt — has been fundamental in reshaping my self-worth. Learning to love yourself enough to keep moving forward is a daily practice. Sometimes it means taking small, gentle steps such as journaling or using prompts designed to calm anxiety. For instance, when overwhelmed by emotional turmoil, I used deep anxiety prompts to reflect on my feelings and create a safe mental space to process them. These techniques helped me avoid repressing my emotions while encouraging progress. It’s also empowering to remember that you can miss someone and still know they weren't good for you. This realization helps untangle the emotions so you can move toward healing with clarity, rather than confusion or self-doubt. If you’re struggling, I encourage finding your 'gentle place to begin,' whether that be through prompts, meditation, or simply allowing yourself to feel without judgment. In my experience, embracing all the feelings instead of rushing through them, sharing your journey with supportive communities, or commenting CALM to access helpful resources can make healing less isolating and more sustainable. Ultimately, healing is a mosaic of emotions — sadness, love, regret, hope — happening simultaneously. Allowing yourself to experience this complex mix with compassion is a powerful step toward emotional freedom and self-worth.