We all long to be seen, known, and loved.

But the process of getting there can seem vulnerable and intimidating. Many of us have had harmful experiences that have taught us to wall up and shut people out. We believe that we’re too messy, or too broken, or that people won’t like us if they know the truth about who we are, where we came from, or what we’re struggling with.  

When people start to get close, there is often a soft distance voice inside our head, whispering, “If you only knew..” then you wouldn’t stay, then you wouldn’t love me, then you’d think differently of me. 

As a result, we stay walled up and think we can keep trudging through this life independently and on our own. Sound familiar? 

If you’ve ever found yourself thinking, “If you only knew…”—we get it. We’ve been there, stuck in the fear of being seen and known. But we’ve been on the other side. And the truth is, when we learn to let safe people in, we can find true connection, belonging, and acceptance.