Author: Dylan Moore

Because for many of us, conflict wasn’t modeled as something healthy. Maybe growing up, disagreements led to yelling, rejection, or emotional shutdowns. Maybe you learned that keeping the peace—even at your own expense—was the only way to feel safe.

But if no one ever taught you that, accepting love can feel like walking into unfamiliar territory. You want to believe it’s safe, but a voice in your head whispers, What if I get hurt? What if they don’t really mean it? If you’ve ever struggled to accept love, you’re not alone. And more importantly—you can unlearn the belief that love is something you have to deserve.

Seeking validation isn’t a flaw—it’s human. We all want to be seen, heard, and valued. But when your self-worth depends on external approval, it becomes exhausting. You start molding yourself to fit expectations, overexplaining your choices, and questioning whether you’re “good enough” every time someone doesn’t respond the way you hoped.

You learned early on that emotions were inconvenient. Maybe you were told to toughen up, stop crying, or get over it. Maybe you learned that your feelings didn’t matter—or worse, that they made you weak. So, you did what you had to do: you shut them down.

Building a life that feels like home isn’t about perfection. It’s about creating a space—inside yourself and in the world—where you feel safe, seen, and fully you. It’s about shedding what doesn’t fit and surrounding yourself with what does.