Abuse is a thief in disguise. It doesn’t just hurt you—it tries to steal your name, twisting your reflection until all you can see are the things you endured: the fear, the pain, the survival. 

It convinces you that your identity is only what happened to you—not who you truly are. 

But hear this truth: 

You are not the abuse. You are not the bruises—emotional or physical. You are not the silence you had to keep, or the strength you were forced to summon. 

You are more. More than what was said about you. More than how you were treated. More than who they tried to make you become. 

Healing isn’t just about forgetting the past. It’s about remembering yourself. 

The you before the hurt. The you that was never truly lost. The you that still exists—whole, worthy, and powerful beneath the rubble. 

Today’s Identity Practice: 

1. Finish this sentence in your journal or aloud: 

“I am not just what I’ve been through, I am also…” (e.g. …a creative soul, a loving mother, a fierce survivor, someone who still dreams.) 

2. List 3 traits or values that are yours—not shaped by fear but rooted in your truth. 

Compassion. Strength. Gentleness. Honesty. Playfulness. 

3. Whisper this truth to yourself: 

“I still get to decide who I am becoming.” 

What happened to you may have shaped part of your story—but it does not get to define your name. You get to rewrite that. You get to reclaim that. 

Tomorrow, we’ll begin reconnecting with your body and emotions through simple grounding practices—tools to help you feel safe inside yourself again.