Breaking The Chains

Unleash your female power through journaling with ease

Heaven is a place called Cartrefle

Dear Friend

How are you feeling today? I wish you were here! I’ve runaway to my HAPPY PLACE, to the house on the beach and it’s pretty much a slice of Welsh paradise.

Yesterday, I was sat in the garden, reading, trying to simmer down ‘Nigel’ my inner critic, and the word COMPARTMENTALISE came into my thoughts. Why? I’m not so sure, but it’s a word I’m very familiar with, I’d probably go as far to say it’s one of my super powers.

So I guess I’m quite the expert at compartmentalising shit. You know what I mean right? That uncanny ability to tuck away your pain, your trauma, your grief and soldier on as if everything’s just peachy. But it’s like all super powers, it comes with a price.

From a young age, we’re taught to be the nurturers, the peacekeepers, the ones who hold it all together. We learn to push down our own needs, to silence our own voices, to lock away our pain in neat little boxes. Childhood traumas? Box it up. Heartbreak? there’s a compartment for that. Loss of confidence? Tuck it away. Bankruptcy, lack of purpose, toxic relationships? We’ve got a place for all of it. Hell yeah, I do!

But here’s the thing, while this ability to compartmentalise might help us survive in the moment, I’ve learnt that it’s holds us back from truly thriving. I’ve noticed whenever I’ve blocked things out, tried my best to ignore my emotional pain, it stopped me from stepping into my full, glorious, messy, powerful self.

It’s such a familiar coping strategy. Whereby you take your pain, whether that be from childhood wounds to adult disappointment, and lock it away so neatly that you’d never know it was there. Does this resonate with you at all? Do you show the world that you’re coolheaded, calm and collected, but underneath it all, you’re not! Because those boxes, those compartments were piling up, getting heavier, demanding more and more energy to keep a lid on them?

That’s were therapeutic journaling came in to help me deal with whatever I automatically used to compartmentalise. Journaling became my tonic, my key to unlocking those boxes and finally dealing with what was inside.

You see when we journal, we give ourselves permission to feel. To acknowledge. To face what what we’ve been running from. It’s like shining a light into those dark corners we’ve been avoiding. And yes, at first, it can be quite scary. No doubt it can be triggering and painful. But it’s also incredibly liberating.

Through journaling, I’ve been able to revisit my traumas, not as the helpless child I was, but as the strong, compassionate woman I’ve become. Overtime, I’ve been able to process the grief of broken relationships, the fear of financial insecurity, and the relentless shame that comes with failure. I’ve confronted my lack of purpose and rediscovered my passions, to the point that I’ve now found my true calling in life, all because I journal every single day.

Each time I put pen to paper, I’m breaking another link in the chains that have held me back. I’m reclaiming pieces of myself that I had locked away, my self-esteem has improved and my confidence grows by the day. Helping other women learn how to channel their emotions through journaling, has been a double tonic for me. It’s given me back my power.

Because that’s what this is really all about, isn’t it? Our power. As women, we have an incredible strength within us. It’s a strength that’s been tempered by every challenge we’ve faced, every pain we’ve endured. But when we compartmentalise, we cut ourselves off from that strength. In short, we fragment our power.

For me and the women who I work with, journaling allows us to integrate all those parts of ourselves - the pain, the joy, the fear, the courage. It helps us see that we are not defined by our traumas or our setbacks. We are so much more than the sum of our experiences. When I journal, I’m not just writing words on a page. I’m literally rewriting my story.

If you find you compartmentalise way too much, I invite you to journal for a few minutes with me now.

Take a deep breath and start unlocking those compartments.

Write about the pain you’ve hidden away.

Write about the dreams you’ve been too afraid to voice.

Write about the woman you truly are, beneath all the roles and expectations.

It won’t be easy. There will be tears. There will be anger and rage. There will be grief. But trust me when I write this, there will also be relief, understanding and a growing sense of wholeness. Remember every word you write is an act of courage.

The journey from fragmented to whole isn't always easy, but it's where we find our true strength

You’re not meant to be fragmented.

You are not meant to hide parts of yourself away.

You are meant to be whole, glorious and unapologetically you!

Here are a few prompts to help you start journaling, a gentle step towards breaking free from compartmentalisation…

1. Describe a moment when you felt truly powerful. What made you feel that way, and how can you recreate that feeling this weekend?

2. Think of a pain you’ve tucked away. If it could speak, what would it say to you?

3. List 3 ways you’ve been holding yourself back. For each one, write an affirmation that challenges these limitations.

4. Imagine a future self who has embraced all parts of her story. What advice does she have for you today?

5. Describe the woman you want to be - not in terms of achievements, but in terms of how you want to feel in your own skin.

Please remember there is no right or wrong way to respond to these prompts. The goal is to explore, to feel, and to connect with all parts of yourself. Take your time, be gentle with yourself, and try and let your authentic voice shine. Happy journaling dear friend

Until the next time

Take care and stay safe xx

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