🕯️ Gentle Reminders For Reclaiming My Life

𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥. 𝐄𝐱𝐡𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. 𝐁𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐭. 🥀

For a long time, I've been running on fumes until the effects of overextending myself were no longer just "happening in my head."

I was getting easily overwhelmed in my work and relationships. I had lost weight. My sleep quality suffered. My body would mysteriously ache in different places every other day.

When we're taught to prioritize productivity over our own health at work, to maintain harmony over our own safety in relationships, we learn that our value is tied to how much of ourselves we can give for others.

But where do our own needs fit in this equation when:

• We ignore the unease in our bodies being with certain people? ⚡

• We hustle and grind ourselves into exhaustion or illness? 🪫

𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲?

The truth is, I've learned, you must make yourself your own priority 𝘪𝘯 𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘵𝘦 of what others ask of you. You hold the power to decide how, and with who, you spend your energy, and the most important person to dedicate your energy to is yourself.

I've also learned, quite painfully, that some people may not like when you start to tap into your own power. But just know that says everything about 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 limitations, not yours.

Of the many truths I've uncovered when I finally chose to come back to myself, there are three that resonated the most with me:

𝟏. 𝐈 𝐝𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭. 🛏️

It seems so obvious, but it's easy to get caught up in the noise and pressures of everyday life. Rest becomes a goal rather than a necessity. This was a much needed reminder that rest isn't an item at the bottom of a checklist to be checked off. The body actually sends signals when it's getting close to its limits, and unlearning the grind mindset helped me become more attuned to those signals and give my body the rest it deserves.

𝟐. 𝐈 𝐝𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐨𝐰𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐚 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐲𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐈'𝐯𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐭 𝐠𝐨. 🪞

Growth will not always be comfortable, and that goes just as much for the people around you as for yourself. What I had to learn was personal growth also meant outgrowing certain people, not because I didn't want them in my life but rather because they couldn't handle me changing. This was a reminder I don't have to feel guilty or shame for shedding what no longer serves me.

𝟑. 𝐈 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐤 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐦𝐲 𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞. ❤️‍🩹

Perhaps the hardest truth for me to put into practice. I had loved someone who struggled to believe they could be loved. I had to accept that there's nothing I can do against the narrative someone has of themselves. Letting someone go is never easy, but this was the greatest kindness I could give to them and to myself. Now I turn all that love I had to give inward, finding peace in my own presence again.

Learning to live in a way that nurtures my own self-growth and self-love is slow work, but rewarding. I'm more selective with how I use my energy, and the people around me now are the ones who have shown genuine support for me and my healing. I give myself a lot more grace when reaching my limits, and I feel like I'm finally recovering from the burnout I've been enduring for years.

I'm moving beyond survival and into a gentler, more intentional life. 🪷

If you're also building a softer life, I'd love to hear what truths you've come across that resonated with you. 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐦𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬! 💬🤍

#gentlereminders #restisnotlazy #boundariesarebeautiful #healingjourney #personalgrowth

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Slide 1: 3 Truths That Freed Me From Survival Mode

Slide 2: Truth 1

I don't need to earn my rest

Slide 3: Truth 2

I don't owe anyone a version of myself I've let go

Slide 4: Truth 3

I can love deeply and still walk away to protect my peace

Slide 5: Which of these truths resonated with you? Comment below!