“The body remembers what the mind forgets. Healing is when they finally speak the same language.”
The other day, I had a brief and unexpected encounter that stirred something deep inside me.
I ran into one of my Spring Cleanse members while walking through the halls of the hospital that I work at. It was a short exchange—she seemed rushed and wrapped up the conversation quickly, not even staying long enough for me to ask how the cleanse was going. In the past, that kind of interaction would’ve sent me into a spiral. I would’ve taken it personally. Assumed I did something wrong. Wondered if I hadn’t done enough.
But this time was different.
Thanks to the deep work I’ve done around inner child healing, I saw what was really happening: she wasn’t pushing me away—she was confronting the discomfort of not showing up for herself. And sometimes, that discomfort manifests as avoidance or distance when we’re faced with someone who is doing the work.
The funny thing is… even with that awareness, I found myself wanting to cry later.
It wasn’t my mind reacting.
It wasn’t even about her.
It was something deeper—something soul-level.
It was my inner child.
That tender, wise, intuitive part of me who still carries memories of being overlooked, dismissed, or unseen. Even though my mind had made peace with the situation, my spirit needed to feel what it never got to fully express in the past.
And I’ve learned not to ignore that anymore.
A Pattern I Didn’t See Until I Stepped Away...
This isn’t a new pattern for me. For years—especially as a personal trainer and wellness coach—I used to carry the weight of every client’s outcome on my back. When someone didn’t meet their goals, I’d blame myself. I’d immediately go into overdrive: tweaking their workouts, adjusting their meal plans, adding more resources, checking in more often.
I was working harder for their results than they were.
And in some cases, my over-involvement unintentionally created a dynamic where they didn’t have to show up fully—because I was doing so much of the heavy lifting. I was trying to prove my worth through their success, which placed a lot of pressure on both of us.
But here’s the shift that changed everything:
I’ve also had people tell me they reversed chronic health conditions—just by reading one of my blog posts. They weren’t my private clients. They didn’t get customized programs. They didn’t need me to hold their hand.
They simply chose to lead themselves.
And that’s when I finally understood: people change when they’re ready. Not because I overextend myself, but because something within them decides it’s time.
You Can Be the Mirror Without Taking the Blame...
Back to the hospital moment—no, I didn’t take her distance personally this time. I saw that it wasn’t a reflection of me. It was a reflection of where she was in her own journey. But I still felt the emotional aftershock. And that, I realized, was a soul cry. A quiet inner request to feel and release, not suppress and move on.
That’s the nature of true healing.
You can “know better” and still feel deeply.
You can be aware and still hurt.
You can be whole and still have tender spots.
And all of it is valid.
An Invitation to You...
If you’ve ever felt the sting of being dismissed…
If you’ve ever carried someone else’s disappointment like it was your own…
If you’ve ever bent over backward for someone who didn’t meet you halfway…
You’re not alone.
And maybe your soul is also asking to be heard. So I’d love to offer a journal prompt that’s been helping me tune in and give that younger version of myself what she really needs.
✨ Reflect On This:
When was the last time I felt dismissed or unseen, and what did my inner child need in that moment? What would it look like to give myself that love now?
Let this be your reminder: your value isn’t based on who validates you.
Your worth isn’t up for debate.
And your healing is unfolding exactly as it should. I hope this helps.
In Good Health,
Amber Stewart BS,
Holistic Nutritionist
Certified Master Life Coach
ACSM Exercise Physiologist
CTNC Mental Wellness Specialist
TBMM Corrective Exercise Specialist
