Releasing the Weight We Were Never Meant to Carry

I recently had a session with a woman who has carried the weight of childhood abuse and cultural obligation for far too long. Her story isn’t rare, but her courage is.

She’s done the deep work. She's met her inner child. She’s seen where the pain lives in her body. But this time, she came with a different kind of ache: the burden of obligation, especially toward the very person tied to her pain.

She said something that cracked my heart open:

“I don’t feel I owe her anything… but I still feel like I’m supposed to.”

If you’ve ever felt this—the invisible leash of expectations from family, culture, or society—you’re not alone.

Sometimes, we’re taught that being a “good daughter” or “good person” means self-sacrifice. That love looks like duty, not choice. That we must maintain relationships that hurt us, because… that’s just what you do.

But what if that’s not true?

What if you don’t owe your healing to the person who hurt you?

What if releasing the pressure to be someone you’re not… is the exact doorway to becoming someone you truly love?

In our session, she let go of the “cloak” of obligation she’d worn for years—heavy, itchy, suffocating. She visualized taking it off. And in its place, she planted a new garden. Not one handed down to her by others, but one that blooms every time she says:

“No, I choose me.”

She’s learning that self-love isn’t selfish—it’s sacred. That she can honor her journey, her culture, and her healing without betraying herself.

And maybe… You needed to hear that, too. If this resonates, take a breath. Place your hand on your heart. And remind yourself:

I am allowed to choose peace. I am allowed to release what was never mine. I am allowed to love myself, fully and without apology.

You’re not here to carry it all.

You're here to heal.

You're here to bloom.

And you're doing beautifully.

XXOO,

Leigh

Ready to begin your healing journey? You don’t have to do it alone. Explore sessions, resources, and support at LeighKubin.com — a space created to help you release what no longer serves and become who you were always meant to be.

You are worthy of peace. You are worthy of love. And you are worthy of a life that feels like your own.