THEMES
Attachment styles, self-protection, emotional safety, trust rebuilding, self-forgiveness, trauma bonding, grief processing, boundaries
NOTES
Summary & Takeaways
Self-Protection & Trust: Self-protection doesn’t mean shutting down. It means staying connected to your feelings while observing behavior over time. Ask yourself not just what someone is doing—but how it makes you feel and whether it aligns with what you want.
From Skepticism to Curiosity: If you’ve been through trauma or a major life event, you may feel skeptical about trusting others—or even yourself. Rather than labeling yourself “skeptical,” shift to being curious.
Relationship Cycles & Growth: Long-term relationships go through phases. Sometimes, even when a partner does “all the right things,” your heart might not respond. That doesn’t mean you’re broken or ungrateful. It could mean you've emotionally outgrown the dynamic.
Simplifying Healing: Healing is not about doing all the things—it’s about creating space to feel what needs to be felt. Instead of layering on more growth strategies, simplify. Tend to your heart like sacred ground.
Quotes
“Curiosity is going to allow you to learn. Skepticism makes you doubt. Curiosity gives you information.”
“You are not who you were before. You’ve done the work. Update your identity to match who you are now.”
“You don’t need all the answers right now. But you can trust that clarity will come.”
“Resentment is like holding a hot stone—your intent is to throw it, but you’re the one getting burned.”
“Sometimes we get the thing we thought we wanted—and we still don’t feel happy. That doesn’t mean something’s wrong with you. It means you’re evolving.”
“You teach people how to treat you. If your boundaries are crossed and they keep crossing them, you have to choose yourself.”
Reflective Prompts
What are my current emotional needs in relationships?
Where am I holding back to feel safer—and what might I need to feel secure enough to open?
What is my intuition trying to tell me?
Where can I shift from skepticism to curiosity in my life right now?
What patterns from past relationships am I afraid of repeating?
Where am I prioritizing family loyalty over my own emotional well-being?
What boundaries need to be drawn to protect my peace?
What pain am I still holding on to from past relationships or losses?
How can I nurture myself in a way that brings comfort and clarity?