Past hurts shape the present—heal by naming them

You sit before a blank page, pen trembling over paper. A single question lingers: When did I first feel inadequate? You whisper your own name, then an age—twelve—and write: “They laughed at me. I buried myself in video games to hide.” Waves of memory wash over you: the first pang of rejection, the shame burning your cheeks. Your heart pounds. Yet beneath it, you sense something powerful stirring. You’ve given voice to a lonely child who never got to speak. In trauma research and psychotherapy, naming an old wound gently but directly is the first in a chain of healing. It starts to reshape how your brain holds that memory—weakening fear synapses, growing compassion circuits. A friend’s quiet nods and “I hear you” echo in your mind. You realise this story isn’t shameful; it’s survival. You close your eyes, breathe deeply, and watch the memory shift from a curse into a key.

After journaling your earliest hurt, share it—just a line or two—with someone you trust. Notice your chest unclench as it leaves your mind and enters a caring listener’s ears. That simple step begins to rewire your fear circuits into freedom pathways. Try it before bed.