We all carry invisible scars. Some are from the storms we’ve survived, while others come from the ways we’ve learned to protect ourselves. One such shield is mistrust, a survival mechanism that once saved us but can now hold us back.

Someone once said, “I don’t trust anybody.” At first, I thought about asking why, but then I realized: I didn’t need to. I get it. Everything we do, every choice we make, stems from one primal instinct—to protect ourselves, to survive. We are designed this way, hardwired to shield ourselves from pain and harm.

Not trusting someone makes perfect sense when you’ve experienced betrayal or heartbreak. It’s a way of saying, “I don’t ever want to feel that pain again.” And I respect that instinct; it’s powerful, and it kept you safe during the storm. But what happens when the storm has passed, and we’re still living in fear of the thunder?

The Shackles of the Past

The survival mechanisms we adapt are like armor. They protect us when we’re under attack, but when the battle is over, they become heavy chains. What once saved us can now hold us back.

Think about it: mistrust, fear, avoidance; they served a purpose. They kept you from falling apart when you needed to keep going. But are they still helping you today? Or are they stopping you from opening up to people, to opportunities, to life?

Surviving a storm is something to be proud of. You made it through. You held yourself together when it felt like the world was falling apart. But survival is not the same as living. And the shackles that once protected you may now be the very thing keeping you from freedom.

Embrace and Let Go

Here’s the truth: the storm isn’t there anymore. You are safe now. It’s time to acknowledge and hug the part of yourself that adapted to survive. That version of you was strong, and it did exactly what it needed to do to protect you. But now, you need to tell that part of yourself: “Thank you, but I don’t need you anymore.”

Letting go of survival mechanisms is not about erasing the past; it’s about embracing it. Hug the part of you that’s scared to trust, scared to love, or scared to try again. Let that part know it’s okay to rest now.

Breaking The Shackles

Breaking these shackles takes courage. It takes patience and self-love. But most importantly, it takes a willingness to believe that you are no longer in danger.

You are not the same person you were during the storm. You’ve grown, healed, and changed in ways you might not even realize. You are safe now, and the world is waiting for you to step out of those chains.

So here’s my message to you: Be proud of yourself for surviving whatever storm you had to. But don’t let the armor that saved you turn into the shackles that hold you back. You are safe now. It’s time to live, to trust, and to let go.

The storm is gone. It’s time to break free.