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.

Your weekly dose of emotional clarity, healing, and perspective. Welcome to ESC Weekly, the official newsletter of Emotional Support Club. Every week, I’ll be dropping a new post here to help you slow down, breathe, and reconnect with yourself. Think of it like your Sunday reset — a time to reflect, realign, and refill your emotional energy before a new week begins. What You’ll Find Here: Each issue is designed to meet you right where you are — with real insight and emotional support you can actually use. Inside each post, you’ll find: - ✍️ Short reflections or stories on emotional intelligence, love, healing, or growth - 🪞 Journal prompts and grounding questions - 💬 Community reflections and comments from others on the same journey - 💡 Action steps to help you feel a little more in control — and a little less alone How to Use This Space: 1. Read each weekly post slowly. Let it land — this isn’t content to scroll through, it’s content to feel through. 2. Reflect. Use the journal prompts or share your thoughts in the comments. 3. Engage. Respond to someone else who resonates with you — that’s how connection builds. 4. Return. Come back every Sunday for the next ESC Weekly drop. Every issue builds on the last — like chapters of a story. A story about you becoming more emotionally steady, self-aware, and whole. This Week’s Intention Healing isn’t about getting back to who you were — it’s about becoming who you were meant to be. If that speaks to you, you’re going to love what’s coming. Let’s start this next chapter of your healing journey — together. Welcome to ESC Weekly. 💌 – Brelin