Lately, I’ve been sitting with something that feels uncomfortable—but important. The way we label ourselves. By a diagnosis. A condition. A belief system. A political party. A religion. A role we’ve played for a long time. Labels can be helpful. They give language to experiences that once felt confusing or isolating. They can offer relief, validation, and a sense of belonging. In many cases, they’re a starting point for understanding ourselves more clearly. But somewhere along the way,...

This morning I found myself thinking a lot about assumptions—those quiet little stories we create about what other people might be thinking or feeling, without ever actually asking them. I’ve had a couple of experiences where incorrect assumptions were made about me. Someone assumed a post I shared was about them, and someone else was assuming that I had taken an idea from them. Neither of those things was true. What became clear, though, is how easily assumptions can take root when...

For a long time, I believed that to help others heal, I had to be deeply broken first. I thought wisdom only came from devastation. That spiritual leadership required surviving something dark enough, painful enough, dramatic enough to justify taking up space in healing circles. I quietly told myself that unless I had suffered in extreme ways, I didn’t really belong. That belief kept me small for a long time. The truth is, I had a happy childhood. My parents are still together—mostly happy,...