Worthy Roots exists to honor your survival and fuel your growth.
SURVIVAL MODE & BUILDING STABILITY: Learning to Feel Safe & Trust the Ground Beneath You
You're running on fumes, just trying to make it through the day. And yet, deep down, you’re starting to glimpse something more. Healing still feels fragile, like taking one step forward and two steps back. Some days, just existing is enough. Other days, you dare to hope for stability.The good news? You are already doing the work. The challenge? Learning to trust that stability isn’t temporary and that you deserve a life where peace isn’t something you have to chase, but something you get to live in.Right now, your healing isn’t about deep transformation. It’s about creating the foundation for it. It’s about stabilizing your nervous system, setting small but firm boundaries, and reminding yourself—over and over—that safety isn’t something you have to earn.You are allowed to breathe.
You are allowed to rest.
You are allowed to trust yourself.
Healing Stage: Balancing Survival & Stability
You are growing, even when it feels slow. Some days, you’re just getting through. Other days, you feel yourself reaching for more, but the weight of past struggles still pulls at you. That’s okay. This is part of the process.
🔹 You are still in survival mode some days, but you’re also learning how to build stability.
🔹 You are working on boundaries, but enforcing them feels exhausting.
🔹 Financial, emotional, or relationship security still feels fragile.
🔹 You’ve gotten glimpses of what peace could feel like, but it’s not always within reach.Somewhere inside, you might even feel resistance to stability because chaos has been familiar for so long. When you’ve lived in survival mode, calm can feel unsettling, like waiting for the other shoe to drop.Healing is teaching you that safety is possible, even if it’s unfamiliar. At first, stability might feel strange like something is missing. That’s okay. Learning to trust peace takes time, just like learning to survive once did.
Validation: You are not failing at healing. You are learning to trust stability after living in survival mode for so long. That takes time. That takes practice.
You are not broken for struggling with this. Keep going.
Actionable Steps: What You Need Right Now
✨Survival mode still kicks in sometimes; so, start small. When stability feels unfamiliar, focus on the next breath, the next meal, the next moment of calm.
✨Build tiny, non-negotiable habits that make you feel safe. This could be a night routine, journaling, or even just keeping your space clean.
✨ If setting boundaries feels overwhelming, start with one small shift. Even saying “I need a minute” is an act of self-protection.
✨ Reframe negative self-talk. When you catch yourself thinking, “I don’t deserve this stability,” pause. Ask yourself, What if I do? What if I’ve always deserved peace, and I’m just learning how to accept it?
Content Warning: Personal Reflections Ahead
The following section contains personal insights and experiences related to healing and trauma. While shared with the intention of fostering connection and understanding, some content may evoke strong emotions. Please ensure you're in a comfortable and safe space before proceeding. Remember, it's okay to pause, take a break, or seek support as needed.
Personal Note: I know this place well. I felt trapped; stuck between surviving and trying to build something better. Anytime I started to feel safe, either I sabotaged it, or life threw something at me I couldn’t control. It was like my body was used to the trauma and not just from the inside, but from the world around me.It seemed like every time I tried to get ahead, something pulled me back: rising rents, a job that didn’t keep up with inflation, COVID, custody battles, car trouble, collections, debt, hospitalizations and so on. No matter how much I wanted stability, it always felt just out of reach.I was so used to trauma that when I met my now-husband, I found myself creating conflict without realizing it. Not because I wanted to, but because it felt familiar, because I mistook chaos for connection. When I fought with my partner, I felt a rush of anger, adrenaline, intensity. More than that, I felt validated when he refused to leave.I had never learned what stability felt like, so my body resisted it.It took almost losing my partner before I realized something had to change. I had convinced myself that I was protecting myself. That conflict meant passion, that peace meant waiting for the next disaster. My body was still in survival mode, even when I didn’t need to be.I started paying attention to my body, anytime I felt the need to cause tension. Then I began pausing before picking a fight, taking a breath, and asking myself, ‘Is this what I really want?’ That is when I started to break the cycle. I started choosing peace instead of panic. I started trusting myself again, not just in my relationship, but in every part of my life.When I took a chance and quit my job, I found something better—more aligned, more abundant, and more fulfilling. I began investing in myself in ways I hadn’t before: going to the doctor, getting vaccinated, journaling, and creating space for self-reflection. For the first time, my choices were grounded in self-trust instead of fear.But I want to be clear: my ability to take that risk was influenced by privilege, whether it was financial, social, educational, or structural. I had certain safety nets that made the leap less dangerous for me than it might be for others. That context matters.And still I believe in possibility. Not the toxic kind that ignores barriers, but the kind rooted in collective care, access, and reclaiming agency. Your path might be different. It might be slower, less linear, more interrupted by survival. But your healing, your joy, your liberation? It’s still possible. You are still worthy.This isn’t about just trying harder. It’s about systems that need to change, and also about helping you feel safe enough to imagine more for yourself when you’re ready. I share this not to minimize anyone’s struggle, but to remind you: you are not broken for needing support. And you don’t need to wait for permission to start showing up for yourself in small, meaningful ways.Now, I know this:
✨Stability is safe.
✨Peace is the foundation of Love.
✨And real love doesn’t leave when the chaos quiets down.
✨Real love—whether it’s for yourself or from others—doesn’t demand exhaustion. It allows you to rest.If this resonates with you, take a deep breath.Just for a moment, let survival take a backseat. Even if it’s only for one breath, one pause, one moment where survival isn’t the only goal.
That’s where healing begins; not in giant leaps, but in these small, quiet choices to let yourself breathe.
Have a question or want to share your thoughts? Email us at ✉️[email protected]
or connect with us on 📷 Instagram: @worthyrootsllc
Disclaimer
This result is for insight and reflection only. It is not medical advice and does not create a client or coaching relationship.
Healing is complex, and you deserve support that works for you. If you're in need of professional care or are in crisis, please seek help from a licensed provider or findahelpline.com