For a long time, I avoided.

I distracted myself with busy-ness.
I told myself I was fine.
I smiled, kept going, and pushed down the things that felt too uncomfortable to face.

Sometimes, I even trivialised what I was feeling, convincing myself that others had it worse, or that I should be able to just get on with things.

And in many ways, that worked — until it didn’t.

The truth is, we all have parts of ourselves we’d rather not look at. Old wounds. Quiet beliefs we picked up long ago. Patterns that keep repeating, even though we wish they wouldn’t.

It’s human nature to want to avoid discomfort. But avoidance doesn’t mean resolution — it just means delay. And eventually, those unacknowledged parts start to whisper. Then nudge. And sometimes, shout.

You can’t heal what you’re unwilling to see.

This quote reminds us that burying, ignoring, or even trivialising painful emotions or experiences doesn’t make them go away — it only postpones the healing process. The feelings remain there, quietly shaping how we respond, how we relate, how we see ourselves and others.

Healing begins when we choose to meet those parts of ourselves with honesty and self-compassion. When we stop running, and start listening, even if we’re not sure what to do next.

At its heart, healing is about learning how to be in honest relationship, not just with others, but first and foremost with ourselves.

And that relationship with self matters deeply. Because how we treat ourselves sets the tone for how we show up in every other relationship. If we’re burying parts of our truth, denying our needs, or holding ourselves to unrealistic expectations, it’s hard to connect with others from a grounded, open place.

Awareness is the beginning of everything.

Not judgment.
Not fixing.
Not pushing through.

Just awareness. A gentle turning inward with curiosity. A willingness to ask, “What’s really here?”

That moment of honest reflection is powerful. It’s not always easy, in fact, it can feel raw and vulnerable at first. But it’s also where clarity begins. Where choice begins. Where healing becomes possible.

And it’s important to remember: healing is not linear.
There will be moments of progress, insight, and relief and there will also be moments that feel heavy or uncertain. Everyone’s path is different, and none of it is wrong. What matters is showing up with compassion for yourself, wherever you are in the process.

In my own journey, I didn’t wake up one day suddenly ready to face it all. It happened in layers, one moment of awareness at a time. And it’s still a work in progress. A powerful, challenging, sometimes downright frustrating process… but it’s a gift I continue to give myself. Because when I meet myself with compassion and understanding — when I allow myself to feel, to heal, to simply be — I’m showing up for me. And that matters.

If any part of this resonates with you — if you’re noticing the same patterns, feeling stuck, or simply sensing there’s something more beneath the surface — I invite you to pause. To breathe. To gently ask: What am I not seeing right now?

And if you’d like support as you explore that, I offer a free chemistry call — no pressure, just a conversation. A space to be heard, and to begin.