I want to start this first issue of ESC Weekly with something honest, something that every person in this community needs to hear, whether they’re healing from a breakup, learning boundaries, or just trying to feel like themselves again: Healing doesn’t feel peaceful at the beginning. It feels unfamiliar. It feels empty. It feels wrong. And that doesn’t mean you’re failing — it means you’re finally growing. People often think that healing is supposed to feel like calm mornings, lightness, journaling, drinking tea, meditating, feeling whole again. In reality… healing starts with discomfort. It starts with the part of you that is still shaking, still missing someone, still craving old habits, still trying to figure out who you are without the chaos you once called connection. You’re not in pain because you’re weak. You’re in pain because you’re finally removing the emotional patterns that were numbing you. And when you let go of something that once distracted you from yourself… you’re forced to finally meet yourself. That’s where the discomfort lives. When you start healing, you’re not stepping into peace, you’re stepping into withdrawal. Withdrawal from: - Emotional intensity - Inconsistent love - Being needed - Chasing validation - The highs and lows of unhealthy connection Your nervous system doesn’t care about what’s healthy. It cares about what’s familiar. So when you walk away from someone who couldn’t choose you… or when you finally stay in No Contact… or when you stop pleasing people and start protecting your peace… Your body panics, because you made a choice you’ve never made before. You’re stepping out of survival mode, and your system doesn’t know what to do with the quiet. That quiet can feel like emptiness. It can feel like loneliness. It can feel like something is missing. This is where everyone gets confused: “If they weren’t good for me… why do I miss them?” “If I’m healing… why does this feel so uncomfortable?” “If this is the right choice… why does my body feel wrong?”

I want to start this second newsletter with something I’ve struggled with myself: believing in myself. Most people don’t realize it, but the loudest voice in our life is the one inside our own head. And if I’m being honest, mine hasn’t always been kind. For years, that voice was critical, doubtful, and unforgiving. And if you’re anything like me, maybe you know exactly what I’m talking about. The truth is, a lot of people don’t actually believe in themselves. It’s not that they don’t want to, it’s that somewhere along the way life convinced them they weren’t enough. Maybe someone told you that directly, or maybe it was through rejection, heartbreak, or being overlooked one too many times. Whatever the reason, once that seed of doubt gets planted, it grows fast. When you don’t believe in yourself, it shows up everywhere. At work, you hold back your ideas, second-guess decisions, or settle for less because you assume someone else must know better. In relationships, you stay quiet when your needs aren’t being met, or you tolerate things that hurt you, because deep down you don’t believe you deserve better. And in daily life, you find yourself procrastinating, talking yourself out of dreams, or quitting before you even start, because that inner voice keeps saying, “Why bother? You’ll fail anyway.” I’ve seen this in my own life. Times when I’ve played small, when I let my doubt run the show. And the hard truth is, life will always shrink to the size of the belief you have in yourself. When you stop trusting yourself, the world stops trusting you too. But here’s the flip side: when you do believe in yourself, things begin to shift. You carry yourself differently. You speak with more confidence. You start setting healthier boundaries. You go after opportunities that once felt impossible. You attract people who treat you with the respect you’ve already given yourself. And no, believing in yourself doesn’t mean you never doubt again. I still doubt myself sometimes. But now I’ve learned that self-belief is not about getting rid of doubt. It’s about deciding that doubt doesn’t get to drive the car anymore.

Good morning everyone! I’d like to get an ice breaker going so we can all start meeting one another and connecting. So, take a second and introduce yourself and let us know: What brought you to the emotional support club? What are you currently dealing with right now? What’s one thing that brings you happiness?

Your emotional growth library — learn, practice, and heal at your own pace. Welcome to the Courses & Tools room. This is where you’ll find everything you need to go deeper on your healing journey — all in one place. Think of this as your personal growth library — a space to learn, reflect, and rebuild yourself with real tools that work. What You’ll Find Here: - 🎧 Audio Guides & Affirmation Packs — calm your mind, reprogram your thoughts, and reset your energy - 📘 eBooks & Mini-Guides — deep reads that walk you through breakups, boundaries, and emotional control - 🧩 Courses & Workshops — structured lessons like How to Feel Without Falling Apart 101 - 🪞 Worksheets & Practice Tools — reflection prompts, boundary scripts, and guided self-regulation exercises Everything here is designed to give you structure and clarity, so your healing doesn’t feel like wandering in circles. How to Use This Space: 1. Start with what you need most. If you’re in emotional pain — begin with Emotional Support for Breakups or No Contact, etc. 2. Take your time. There’s no rush. You don’t have to finish anything by a certain date. Healing through learning works best when you go slow and apply what you learn. 3. Reflect in the comments. After each lesson or resource, share your takeaway — how it made you feel, what you realized, or how it’s helping.Others might be walking through the same section and your words could help them too. 4. Revisit when you’re ready. You’ll come back to the same lessons at new stages of your healing — and each time, they’ll hit differently. Remember: Knowledge doesn’t heal you — applying it does. These tools are here to remind you that you already have the strength; you’re just learning how to use it again. So take a deep breath, explore what speaks to you, and let your healing begin — one lesson at a time. – Brelin

The heart of the Emotional Support Club — where conversations turn into connection. Welcome to the Discussion Lounge. This is where we talk about real things — love, loss, boundaries, healing, and everything in between. It’s the space for deeper discussions, shared perspectives, and honest stories. Think of it as the living room of Emotional Support Club — where everyone can sit down, speak freely, and learn from one another. What This Space Is For: - Open conversations about emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and relationships - Questions you want feedback or perspective on - Thoughtful debates and healing discussions - Polls and check-ins about what you’re going through It’s less about having the right answer — and more about understanding yourself better through conversation. How to Use This Space: 1. Start a conversation. Post a question, idea, or experience you’ve been thinking about — no topic is too small or too deep. Examples: “Why does peace sometimes feel boring after chaos?” “What’s the hardest part about setting boundaries for you?” “What does emotional maturity look like in real life?” 2. Join in with empathy. When someone posts, reply with respect, curiosity, and compassion — we’re not here to debate pain, we’re here to understand it. 3. Share from experience, not ego.Speak as if you’re talking to your past self — gentle, honest, and human. 4. Stay open. The goal isn’t to prove who’s right — it’s to discover truth that helps us all grow. Remember: This community is built on emotional intelligence and mutual respect. Everyone here is on a different chapter of healing, but we’re reading from the same book: how to feel without falling apart. So go ahead — start a thread, ask a question, or share a story that’s been sitting on your heart. Let’s keep it real… by learning how to feel. – Brelin