We tend to think of trauma healing as a clean, linear journey with a clear beginning, middle, and end. However, healing generally looks more like the ocean. There are days when the ocean is calm, and you can breathe freely, have clarity of thought, and feel grounded. Other days, waves unexpectedly come in. Some waves are small and manageable; others feel like a surge and take you back to a time in your life that you thought had just passed. The waves you are experiencing could be considered repeating symptoms of trauma.

As we settle into 2026, the world around us can feel overwhelming. Between constant news cycles, global uncertainties, and the ambient anxiety that seems to permeate our daily lives, it's easy to feel like everything is perpetually on fire. But here's something I've learned: when the world feels chaotic, having clear goals isn't just helpful, it's essential.

People pleasing is more than just being nice. It's constantly putting everyone else's needs first, saying yes when you mean no, and feeling responsible for everyone's happiness. Sound familiar? Most people pleasers learned this pattern early. As kids, we figured out that love and attention came when we did things for our parents such as behave well, help out, and make them proud. We learned that the more we did, the more love we got. And that message stuck.