You’re not lost. The version of you that knew how to survive is no longer meant to lead.
There comes a moment in every healing journey when confusion feels louder than clarity. When what once worked no longer does. When the inner compass that guided you through hardship suddenly goes quiet.
If you’re here, reading this, you might be thinking: I feel lost. I don’t recognise myself anymore. You are not alone and I know exactly how you feel.
The good news is your nervous system is only just beginning to understand:
You’re not lost. You’re outgrowing the version of you that learned how to survive. And that version - brave, adaptive, relentless - was never meant to lead you forever.
Survival Was Never the Destination
Survival is intelligent. It is creative. It is deeply spiritual in its own way.
The survival self learns how to:
Stay alert
Keep the peace
Push through exhaustion
Shrink, harden, or overperform when needed
Read the room instead of listening inward
This version of you got you here.
But it was built in response to threat, not truth.
When survival leads for too long, life begins to feel tight. Heavy. Misdirected. You may notice:
A sense of restlessness or emptiness, even when things “look fine”
Creative blocks or loss of joy
Emotional numbness or chronic fatigue
A longing you can’t name, but can’t ignore
This isn’t failure. It’s evolution.
I’ll be sharing more in my blog about this topic over the coming weeks as it’s so close to my heart.
If This Resonated…
This space—between survival and soul—is where some of the most profound transformations occur.
I explore wellbeing, spirituality, and visual art as pathways back to embodied truth - offering words, artwork, and practices for those who are no longer willing to live in survival mode. I’d love you to:
Subscribe to the newsletter for gentle insights, creative rituals, and soul-led reflections.
Follow me @vickyjpaul for visual storytelling that speaks to the parts of you beyond words.
You’re not lost. You’re remembering who leads now.