"That's the way I've always done it," is not a good reason.

I started my journey to healing over a decade ago when I discovered I was an empath. At least that’s what I thought I was doing by labeling my sensitivity, but I didn’t have the tools, knowledge, or support to continue on my path. I didn't even know there was a path.

The Universe gave me little nudges along the way to pick up where I left off, but I didn’t realize they were nudges. I just thought they were natural bouts of anxiety, frustration, avoidance, or laziness, but the nudges got stronger and stronger until I couldn’t ignore them any longer.

Last year, I proceeded on my path to healing and self-discovery. I did something I had never done before; I allowed myself to be vulnerable. I put myself out there, not knowing how my family and friends would react.

I started small by sharing positive memes on Facebook. Up until that point, my Facebook content mainly consisted of funny memes and animals needing forever homes. Sharing openly and honestly was very scary to me. I was afraid people would unfriend me, judge me, criticize me, or think my posts were stupid. And I wasn't wrong.

It wasn’t long after I started sharing positive memes that I received my first “are you ok” text. It said something to the effect that the concerned individual noticed my posts and wanted to make sure everything was ok. My heart sunk into my stomach because not only did this person notice a change, now they thought something was wrong with me.

I appreciated the person’s concern despite it sending me into anxiety overload. Here I was trying to be positive, but this person thought something was wrong with me. What was I doing wrong? How did I screw up spreading love and positivity?

Fortunately, I overcame my fear enough to keep posting. I even started posting original memes that I created, doing live and prerecorded content on Facebook and TikTok, and created a Facebook group. All of this was a massive step for me.

I would be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed when I didn't get the response I was hoping for from family and friends.

Again, I started questioning everything I was doing. I was so proud of myself, but the silence from those who know my fear of being on camera and being vulnerable was deafening. Did they think, this was a phase that would pass? Was I embarrassing myself, and they were too afraid to tell me? So many thoughts and scenarios went through my head as to why they didn’t support me.

Then, I noticed a few friends on Facebook were no longer friends as their profiles popped up in the "People you may know" section.

That’s when it hit me! My perspective and definition of support were limiting and outdated. I needed to redefine my definition of support, as well as my expectations. I needed to come from a place of understanding and compassion because everyone is in a different place on their journey. Some may be in front, behind, or not even be on the same road, and that’s ok.

My intentions from the beginning were to help, teach, and guide anyone God placed in my path. Needing or expecting support in a particular way from certain people was a limiting belief system that was no longer relevant to me. I knew I was on the right path in my heart, so the “need” for support wasn’t a “need” at all, rather it was a want or expectation.

It was selfish of me to want or expect someone to like, comment, or share my messages just because they were related or close friends. Being a close friend or family member does not mean they are obligated to support me merely due to our relationship status. And I can’t be upset with anyone who chooses to unfriend me on Facebook, regardless of their reason, because they are being true to themselves.

Being your true authentic self does not mean you have to like, comment, share, or stay connected with someone on social media because you are related to or close friends with them, especially if their messages don’t resonate with you. Compromising your beliefs to make someone else happy is a disempowering belief system that implies your feelings are less important than theirs. If something as simple as hitting the “like” button makes you feel uneasy, don’t do it.

Being true to yourself means setting healthy boundaries and not operating out of obligation or guilt. Some may get upset with you, but that is not your problem. Always support yourself first!

After examining and questioning my feelings and mixed emotions, I realized support doesn’t always look like a pat on the back or a front-page news article. It can be the lack of inauthentic or forced “obligatory” support from those who love you most. It can be the lack of the “I should like, share, and comment because he/she is family/best friend.” It can be the lack of negative or condescending remarks.

Once I was able to narrow down the limiting belief that was holding me back and redefine it, I gained a whole new perspective and mindset for the current version of me. I gained admiration and respect for those who supported themselves first. I gained confidence in my ability to help others.

So, if you find yourself feeling unsupported, unsuccessful, unsatisfied, unloved, misunderstood, rejected, or just plain confused, look at your definitions of those unwanted feelings. Are the definitions you've always subscribed to still relevant?

Ask yourself the following questions:

1) Is this my definition or someone else’s?

2) Is the definition I use applicable to the current version of who I am today?

3) Who am I seeking (insert feeling) from, and why?

4) How can I move into an energy of empowerment?

5) How can I redefine (insert feeling) so that it serves my highest and best good?

6) How does it serve me to keep my current definition of (insert feeling)?

One of the reasons you could be feeling stuck is because you are holding onto outdated definitions or beliefs. One of the most dangerous ideas you can subscribe to is, “That's how I’ve always done it,” or "That's all I've ever known." I encourage you not to let that sentence stand alone. A 'comma' and a 'but' could be the difference between stuck and unstuck.

That's how I’ve always done it, but I am willing to try something different.

That's all I've ever known, but I am willing to consider something new.

Your only limit in life is you!