"This Stone Isn't Mine"

"Hey Girl, What Are You Carrying?"

The other day, I was walking along a trail when I noticed a woman carrying a backpack that looked incredibly heavy. She wasn't hiking. She was simply walking, but every step looked exhausting.

As I watched her, I couldn't help but think about how many of us are doing the exact same thing emotionally.

We're carrying disappointment, rejection, shame, fear, and expectations that someone else placed on our shoulders years ago.

And somewhere along the way, we convinced ourselves that carrying it all was proof of love.

For years, I carried stones. I carried those stones because I thought that's what strong women do.

Until one day, I realized something. Strength isn't carrying everything. Strength is knowing what belongs to you and what doesn't.

That's when I began laying my stones down one by one.

Girl, you deserve to walk through life lighter.

Have you been carrying stones? Are they heavy?

Let me ask you ?!

Do you want to keep lugging around that weight that was never meant to be yours?

Some stones don’t belong to you.

Some were handed to you in the name of love.

Others were disguised as “your responsibility” or “your fault.”

But it’s time to recognize what no longer serves you and start letting go!

Today, take a deep breath. Drop the stones. Throw them away. Or hand them back.

BUT DON'T CARRY THEM ANYMORE!

Here’s how you start: Take a few quiet moments and reflect on this question:

What am I carrying in my relationships that no longer serves me?

Make your list. Be honest. Be raw.

Here are some examples to get you going:

• Feeling like you can never say no without guilt. (Unclear boundaries) 

• Walking on eggshells so they won’t explode. (Responsibility for someone else’s emotions)

• Staying because “what if no one else comes?” (Fear of being alone)

• Always reaching out, always fixing, constantly bending. (Unreciprocated effort)

• Keeping quiet to keep the peace. (Silencing your voice)

• Believing you must earn someone’s care. (Performing for love)

• Believing it’s your job to heal them. (Carrying their shame or trauma)

• Because they felt threatened by your shine. (Dimming your light )

  
  

THESE ARE STONES! And they are not yours to carry!

Lastly, Let’s Work Together to Thrive in Life

You don’t have to do it alone; with guided support, you can walk lighter. You are allowed to be free. Take five minutes. Write down everything you've done in a relationship, i.e., romantic, platonic, work, or family. Together you can begin to release anything that causes tension, inner crisis, or robs you of peace.

Then say it out loud: “This stone doesn’t belong to me anymore.” And leave it behind!