Encouragement for the Codependent
What I Wish You Knew Before Recovery Dear Younger Me, I wish I could sit beside you for a moment. Not to change your path or warn you about what is coming, but to offer a little comfort for the heaviness you’re carrying. You try so hard to keep everything together, yet so often you... Continue Reading →
How I stopped swimming in other people’s drama pools For the longest time, I misunderstood “detachment.” I thought it meant cutting people off or becoming some kind of emotional robot. No feelings, no problems, right? Wrong. What I’ve discovered is that healthy detachment is not about shutting people out, it’s about keeping my heart open... Continue Reading →
Or in other words...How I Protect My Peace While Supporting Others There was a time when I thought empathy meant giving everything I had, my time, my energy, my emotional reserves, until there was nothing left for me. I’d walk away from conversations drained, resentful, and sometimes even a little lost in someone else’s pain.... Continue Reading →
Rediscovering Who I Am Outside of Codependency For a long time, I didn’t really know where I ended and everyone else began. I was a master adapter, shifting who I was depending on who I was with, what they needed, or what I thought they expected. I confused people-pleasing with kindness and lost myself in... Continue Reading →
Letting Go of Deep-Rooted Resentment: Releasing the Weight I Didn’t Know I Was Carrying For a long time, I didn’t even realize what I was feeling was resentment. I just figured feeling frustrated or a little bitter was normal. I didn’t really see that I was carrying it around like an invisible backpack I had... Continue Reading →
Healing the Subconscious Mind: Changing the Scripts That Once Controlled Me If you had asked me years ago whether I had deep-rooted subconscious patterns running my life, I would have confidently said no. I was just trying to help everyone, that’s all. That was the first clue. On my blog, JourneyOnStrong.com, I have shared a... Continue Reading →
Today I’m Celebrating 20 Years of Recovery from Codependency and People-Pleasing!And yes—I’m throwing confetti (and maybe even dancing a little). Two decades. That’s 240 months, 1,040 weeks, and a whole lot of no’s I had to learn how to say. Today, I’m not just celebrating a milestone—I’m honoring every small, quiet, courageous step it took... Continue Reading →
How I’ve Repaired Relationships Impacted by Codependency (And a Few I Had to Peacefully Let Go) If codependency were an Olympic sport, I would’ve medaled in the early 2000s. Back then, I thought being the “fixer” of every emotional emergency was just what strong, loving people do. Turns out, it was just me subconsciously clinging... Continue Reading →
The Role of Trust in My Healing: Or How I Learned to Stop Side-Eyeing Myself There was a moment (okay, many moments) when I realized I didn’t really trust myself. Not with decisions, not with people, and definitely not with online shopping past 9 p.m. Healing was happening, slowly, but trust? That felt like assembling... Continue Reading →
Reflecting on the person I once was compared to who I am today fills me with immense pride. I look back and see someone who did the work, faced the challenges head-on, and persevered through moments of doubt. She learned from every experience, embraced growth, and embraced change. Now, she exudes confidence, takes pride in... Continue Reading →
Releasing the Need for Approval: Reflect on moments where you’ve let go of external validation. My Ongoing Battle with People-Pleasing Rehab There was a time when a side-eye from a stranger could send me into an existential crisis. Did I say something wrong? Did I wear the wrong shoes? Am I radiating "bad person" energy?... Continue Reading →
Keeping My Sanity: How I Stay Grounded in Stressful Situations Let’s be real—stressful situations are inevitable. Whether it’s an overflowing inbox (this absolutely stresses me out!), a family gathering that feels like a reality TV drama, or the unexpected horror of realizing you’re out of coffee, life has a way of testing our patience. But... Continue Reading →
Journey On Strong 