Part Seven: Becoming Soft Again After Survival Mode

Healing isn’t just about growth, discipline, or boundaries—it’s also about rediscovering your softness.

For years, I lived in survival mode. I was tough out of necessity. I built walls, pushed through pain, and prioritized strength over vulnerability. I was proud of my resilience, but I didn’t realize how much hardness it carried—the constant tension, the inability to rest fully, the armor that kept out both pain and joy.

Healing taught me that softness isn’t weakness. Softness is a choice. It’s the willingness to feel deeply, to trust, to love, and to experience life without rigid control. It’s saying yes to joy and allowing peace to enter without questioning it.

Becoming soft again doesn’t mean undoing the discipline or boundaries I’ve built. It means integrating strength with tenderness, focus with presence, and growth with gratitude. It means letting my heart open without abandoning the wisdom I’ve gained in my journey.

I’m learning to laugh more freely. To allow moments of delight. To embrace vulnerability without fear of judgment. To trust that God can hold me in my softness as firmly as He held me in my storms.

Healing is not just survival—it’s thriving. And thriving requires a soft heart.

Advice for Rediscovering Softness

• Allow yourself to feel without immediately trying to fix or control everything.

• Celebrate small moments of joy—they’re signs of your heart softening.

• Practice self-compassion: softness begins with how you treat yourself.

Remember, vulnerability is a strength when paired with discernment.