Finding Light Through Vulnerability & Authenticity

Recently, I was challenged to write about myself in terms of who I am, or my purpose. I used to post everything about my life, and in time I realized it wasn’t for the right reasons and wasn’t truly me, so I stopped sharing all together.

Let’s be honest, many people share their story today to promote something, to sell a course, to gain followers, to trigger engagement. And while there’s nothing inherently wrong with that, I’m not sharing this for that reason. I felt called to share my journal entry, my assignment I’ve been working on. If you have 5 minutes to spare, I thank you in advance for your time, not to sell you anything, not to provoke emotion just for the sake of it, just for the purpose of the assignment.

This is a piece of my journey that I hope stirs something within you, because maybe, just maybe, you’ve felt alone in yours. And if my vulnerability can shine a small light in your darkness, then it’s worth every word I type.

Vulnerability.
It’s not always easy to embrace. It’s uncomfortable. It can feel like stepping into the unknown, not knowing if you’re ready, or if you’ll even survive the journey. I know this because I’ve been there.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve felt like I didn’t fit in, like I was meant for something different, but I had no idea what that “something” was. I struggled to form lasting friendships and often felt alone. I was constantly searching for a place where I belonged, where my soul could finally feel seen. But no matter how much I tried, something was always missing.

As a child, I was deeply sensitive. I could feel everything around me in a way that was intense and overwhelming. I could sense other people’s emotions sometimes even more than my own. This sensitivity made me feel different, and because I couldn’t always communicate or manage it, I often found myself being picked on or left out. I was the quiet one, the feeler, the one who noticed everything but didn’t always know how to express it.

That pattern followed me.

From as early as 4th grade, I was in counseling. I always knew I was different, but I didn’t fully understand why. I graduated high school and college early due to it. It wasn’t until later in life that I began to understand how our early attachments, the way we are nurtured or neglected, shape how we connect with others as adults. For me, being highly sensitive led to constantly seeking reassurance, being afraid of abandonment, and always trying to prove my worth. I never felt secure in my relationships. I was always scanning the room for signs I might be rejected or forgotten.

That constant chasing after connection, the desperate need to be seen, but the inability to believe I was truly lovable, it was a lonely way to live. And as an adult, those same fears and insecurities played out in relationships, in my career, and in how I viewed my place in the world. Now as a therapist, I see it everywhere.

But here’s the part they don’t tell you when you start healing, sometimes the people you expect to support you the most don’t. And sometimes, it’s the people you least expect, even strangers, who show up for you in the most powerful ways. I had to learn the hard way that not everyone is meant to understand your path. Not everyone will clap for your growth. And that’s not a reflection of your worth, it’s a reflection of where they are in their own journey.

It hurts when those closest to you stay silent. When the people you’ve always shown up for go missing when it’s your turn to rise. But please don’t let their absence dim your light. Don’t let it make you shrink or question the calling on your life. The world needs the dream that lives inside you, even if others can’t see it. Especially then.

People often take advantage of those with good hearts. They mistake compassion, kindness, and sensitivity for weakness. But make no mistake, we are not weak. We see everything. We feel everything. We recognize patterns. We notice intentions. And we often stay quiet, not because we’re blind, but because we choose peace. We choose to let others face their own truths in their own time. That silence, it isn’t weakness, it’s wisdom. Insecurities are loud, confidence is quiet. If you are an empath, it’s your time to shine.

I encourage everyone, especially now, in a world that is shifting, awakening, breaking down old systems, to take a brave look in the mirror and ask: Who am I, really? Who do I want to be in this world? What are my gifts? What do I love about myself?

Let the answers guide you. Let your truth move you. The world doesn’t need more masks. It needs more hearts.

I’ve spent years unraveling old wounds and doing the deep work necessary to heal. I’ve walked through shadows. I’ve felt unchosen. I’ve questioned if I even belonged here. And to be honest, when I finally left a toxic relationship that had been draining me, I didn’t walk into the light right away.

I fell into my darkest place. I spiraled. I questioned everything. I felt so lost and broken, I wondered if I could keep going. What’s our purpose here? Is this it? There were moments I contemplated self-harm. That’s how heavy it all became.

But deep inside me, there was a small whisper, a flicker that hadn’t gone out. That flicker led me to Peru, where I sat in ceremony with ayahuasca. There, I had one of the most profound healing experiences of my life. In that sacred space, I saw a vision of who I really am. I realized I wasn’t broken, I was becoming. I wasn’t “too sensitive”, I was gifted. I wasn’t alone, I was deeply supported by the Universe all along. My life did a 180 in one week.

When I returned home, something powerful happened. My mother, who had been on her own healing journey, witnessed the transformation in me. She felt the call to dive deeper too. Together, we began our breathwork journey. And that journey of two women choosing to heal, to rise, and to reclaim their gifts, led to the creation of Breath by Design.

A company built not on perfection, but on healing. Built on love, on truth, on legacy, on the idea that when we heal ourselves, we help others heal too. Healing is not a straight line. It’s messy. It’s layered. And no one can do it for you.

But here’s the truth, you are the healer. You have the power within you to change, to rewire your brain, to build healthier, safer, more loving relationships with yourself and others. And it all starts with vulnerability.

When you choose to heal for you, you give others permission to heal for them. Your transformation creates a ripple effect, reaching your family, your children, your community. We are all connected. Every time one person chooses to break a cycle, a new future becomes possible. All millennials and Gen X, you are the Generational Cycle Breakers.

I know healing can feel isolating. I’ve walked the lonely path. I’ve cried alone. I’ve doubted if I was worthy of what I was asking for. But in that stillness, through the darkness, I found my light.

And now, I’m here, writing these words, endlessly grateful for life, and to be alive, looking back at the darkness that used to control me. Every session I facilitate, every story you share with me, is a reminder that bravery lives in all of us. That no one is too broken. That healing is possible, even when it feels out of reach.

So if you’re in a season where no one supports your dream, go after it anyway. Send it to me, I’ll show up or support you. If the room is empty, speak your truth anyway. If your friends don’t show up, show up for yourself. The right people will come. The right energy will find you. And one day, you’ll realize your light was never dependent on someone else’s permission.

I want my legacy to be this: That I showed up for others. That I made people feel seen, heard, and held, especially when they were walking through the dark. That I helped remind people that sensitivity is a gift. That vulnerability is sacred. And that healing is always worth the work. Ask yourself, what legacy do you want to leave? Victim mentality will rule you. You have to silence it.

So if you’ve been called to do something bold, do it. Even if no one understands yet. Even if no one claps. Even if it terrifies you.

This is me, standing in my truth, sending out a call to those who are hurting: I see you. I may not have all the answers, but I will keep shining a light so no one feels alone.

So let this message be a reminder: Even in your darkest hour, light is still possible. You are not alone. And your healing? It matters more than you know.

Thank you for reading, and if this resonates with you, or you know someone who needs to hear this, feel free to share. In time, I hope to see more of us vulnerable. And a special thank you to my partner Chris, who sees me for me, is my biggest supporter, and epic photographer of many of these moments.

Take the jump, this is your sign. Shine bright and NEVER DIM YOUR LIGHT

With love and gratitude,
Dr. Rachel Sims