You're healing. You're growing. And sometimes that looks a lot like tripping over your own feet. I’m still learning so many things, things like presence, progress, and relationships. Read this if you want to feel like you're right on time in your own "journey." You are.

“Our wounds are often the openings into the best and most beautiful part of us.” — David Richo

3 Life Truths from My Healing Journey (and What I’m Still Learning)

1. Presence matters, a lot.

We might not be able to control every aspect of the length of our lives. What we can control is the depth of our lives.

How can you live more deeply?

For me, it feels like I’m constantly being taught how to stay, how not to run away from discomfort—how to want to be here. Wanting to be “there” instead of here is the ultimate cause of inner conflict, and it steals peace.

“Happiness is a continuation of happenings which are not resisted.” - Deepak Chopra

It takes awareness to experience life’s depths and nuances. You can practice staying whenever you look out the window at the trees, water, birds, or mountains. You can practice being fully alive whenever you look within and see that your thoughts are just thoughts; they are not you.

For me, it’s about being real and honest with myself when I’m not happy to be in this moment. The whole of life always comes down to this moment. When I can see that, it’s hard not to be happy for this chance to breathe.

2. Progress beats perfection.

Nobody will ever eat, sleep, speak, and breathe your life like you will. You’re meant to be here just as you are right now. Our idiosyncrasies are meant to be expressed, for they are what make us genuine and real.

We can care deeply about the quality of what we create and have high standards for ourselves, but perfectionism will suffocate our soul if we let it. We’ll spend so much energy trying to get it perfect, but the truth is that there’s no shame in growing and improving our work.

Also, why wait until we’re 100% ready to do something we really want to do? Timing rarely seems perfect, but I don’t think it’s really meant to. Starting before we’re ready and everything is perfect—enjoying life anyway—is a testament to the human spirit.

If you're always waiting until the timing feels right, you'll never get to live.

If you're always wishing to be something else, you'll never get to find out who you really are.

Can you honor the journey without worshipping the finish line? That’s huge.

3. Relationships are fuel.

We need real, loving connections with other humans to be happy.

We don’t crave perfection; we crave connection.

Our relationships can be the greatest platforms for growth and healing, if we let them be. Pay attention and you’ll see that your relationships reveal what’s already inside you. They'll illuminate what needs to be healed and worked with still.

The places that hurt the most need the most love. The people who hurt, too.

How can you give the very things you’d like to receive?

How can you let people be who they are without trying to change, correct, or fix them?

We are mirrors reflecting mirrors, and that's a beautiful thing when we start to understand what that might mean.

. . .

Tell me:

Which of these thoughts did you need to read today?

Tell me in the comments. I read every single one, and I'd love to know!

With love,

Jen

P.S. Never forget how far you’ve come, how much potential you have. Go visit my shop to find the (im)perfect poetry print that celebrates you in your fullness, in your mess and magic and everything in between.