Holding Onto Your Power Through Love and Gratitude for Your Past Self
Six years ago, life was chaos—in the best and hardest ways.
We were knee-deep in the chasing babies phase. We couldn’t get them all in one place or on one device at the same time, so we did what we had to do. We pulled a wagon, pushed a stroller, strapped one on, and pulled the other two.
People used to smile and say, “Wow, you have your hands full!” And they were right, but they had no idea just how full life really was.
What they didn’t see was everything else we were carrying.
🔹 Two young adults growing, learning about themselves, and rewriting the narratives they inherited.
🔹 A marriage we were learning to nurture, despite not having the best example of what a healthy one looked like.
🔹 Careers we were building, businesses we were running, dreams we refused to let go of.
🔹 A cancer diagnosis—then another, and another.
🔹 Learning to navigate food allergies, hospital visits, and survival in ways we never expected.
🔹 Natural disasters that shook our world but not our determination.
It wasn’t just that our hands were full—our minds, our hearts, and our souls were stretched beyond capacity. And yet, we kept going.
The Power in Looking Back With Love
It’s easy to look at our past selves with judgment. Maybe you feel like you should have done things differently. Maybe you wish you had known more, been stronger, reacted better. But here’s the truth: you were doing the best you could with what you had.
And that deserves love. That deserves gratitude.
I look back at that younger version of me—the one who barely had time to breathe, the one who carried more than anyone could see—and I don’t feel pity for her. I feel pride.
She showed up. She fought through the exhaustion. She kept moving, kept believing, kept loving. She was so much stronger than she ever realized.
And when I recognize that strength in her, I recognize it in myself today.
Reclaiming Your Power Through Compassion
So often, we give away our personal power by holding onto regret, by criticizing our past selves, by wishing things had been different. But real power comes from owning our journey and embracing every version of ourselves with love.
Here’s how you can reclaim your power through self-compassion:
✅ Love your past self. She got you here. She fought battles you no longer have to. She deserves your kindness, not your criticism.
✅ Practice gratitude for every season. Even the hard ones shaped you. Even the overwhelming moments gave you something—a lesson, resilience, proof of your own strength.
✅ Have compassion for the things you didn’t know yet. You weren’t meant to have it all figured out. You learned as you went, and that is more than enough.
Full Hands, Full Heart, Full Life
Six years ago, my hands were full. Today, my heart is full.
I am grateful for the version of me who kept showing up, even when it was hard. I am proud of her. And because of her, I stand here today—stronger, wiser, and more compassionate with myself than ever before.
So if you’re in a season of life that feels overwhelming, if you’re carrying more than people can see, know this: One day, you will look back and be in awe of how much you overcame.
Until then, be kind to yourself. Love yourself through it. And know that everything you’re doing now is shaping the powerful, capable, unstoppable version of you that’s still ahead. ❤️
