No matter how painful your past has been, you have made it through.

Everything that happens to you is a reflection of what you believe about yourself. We cannot outperform our level of self-esteem. We cannot draw to ourselves more than we think we are worth.

You must be ready in mind, body, and spirit before you can make a change. People cannot convince you to do it. You cannot force you to do it. Everything you think, say, and do until that happens is just preparation. So love yourself right now. Honor yourself. Keep talking to yourself. Keep thinking ready thoughts. In the meantime, try to remember you will not be ready until you are ready.

Sitting alone, listening to the sound of your breath, the beating of your heart is a reminder that you are sacred and blessed.

When you stand and share your story in an empowering way, your story will heal you and your story will heal somebody else.

To honor life, we must be willing to grow through what we don't know yet, and outgrow what we know no longer fits us. We must be willing to give in to the process, moment by moment, realizing a new plot may be unfolding.

I am now willing to forgive myself . . . for believing I could offer something to others before I have offered it to myself.