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This exercise came through about a month into my short-term disability leave. I knew writing things down was not only important to get it 'out of our heads', but constructing the thoughts in a letter format adds a level of closure. It serves as both a farewell and thank you to a companion that had played a significant role in my life.

I was incredibly motivated to heal my mental illness as I just knew there was a life beyond vacillating between depression and burnout symptoms and chronic pain every moment of every day.

I reflect on the past journey to healing, recognizing the need for love and kindness towards the parts I’ve *'struggled' with.

Witness the transformative power of self-acceptance and the liberation that comes with saying goodbye to an old identity, making space for growth, freedom, and self-love.

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*free bird reminder: the language we use is critical. If things are always talked about at as a battle or struggle… they will be. However it’s also important to acknowledge and name the experiences how you feel them as well as transition the mindset.

At this time it was a battle that I was struggling with which propelled me into figuring out long-term growth. When I was able, I started transitioning the way I talked about this companion of pain.

Word transitions / updates to try:

Challenge, experience, journey, hurting, exhaustion, depression [anxiety/burnout/other] symptoms [wave, feelings, emotions, part, experience], learning/growth, discussion/conversation, emotional upheaval, parasympathetic nervous system response

Free bird reminder: transitioning, change and growth take varying levels of effort depending on the neuropathway depth. As always try to give yourself grace to prevent deeper negative self-exchanges :)

Liberate your soul

Burn it down and rise

Because when we heal ourselves, we heal the world

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