-

 Going beyond survival mode is a huge step — but no one tells you it brings its own set of struggles.




For a long time, I thought I was “out” of survival mode.
I had a job.
I paid my bills.
I had a roof over my head.

But looking back, I realize I was in something I now call functional survival.
I could keep the lights on, but inside, I was still bracing for the next storm.
I could smile in public, but my body was still living like danger was around every corner.

My parents worked hard — and in their own way, they taught me to do the same.
They taught me that if you want something in life, you work for it.
They taught me that blood is loyalty.
But no one ever showed me how to go beyond the grind of survival.
No one taught me how to truly thrive.

Thriving is a different skill set.
It’s learning to let yourself feel joy without waiting for it to be snatched away.
It’s building dreams bigger than your “just in case” plan.
It’s letting yourself rest without guilt.

I’m still learning this.
Some days I slip back into survival mode without realizing it.
But now I catch myself. I remember that life isn’t just about enduring — it’s about expanding.

If you’ve made it out of survival mode but you’re wondering why it still feels hard, you’re not failing.
You’re just in the in-between — the place where you’re learning how to live beyond the life you were taught to expect.

💛 Your survival is proof of your strength.
💛 Your thriving will be proof of your freedom.

#BeyondLemonade #HealingJourney #LifeAfterTrauma #FromSurvivalToThriving #CycleBreaker

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

🍋 What Resilience Tastes Like

-
Image
 For a long time, I couldn’t stand the taste of lemons. They reminded me of seasons when life was nothing but sour — times when I was surviving abuse, fighting illness, or trying to figure out how to keep a roof over my children’s heads. Lemons tasted like loss back then. Like things I didn’t choose, but had to swallow anyway. But something shifted when I started my healing journey. I began to see that maybe lemons weren’t my enemy. Maybe they were my teachers. They taught me to embrace what was sharp and tangy — to let it wake me up instead of shut me down. I started experimenting in the kitchen of my life. Adding honey for sweetness — because I deserved that, too. Adding mint — because growth often comes quietly, where no one can see it. Now, resilience tastes like: 🍋 Lemons — because life is tangy, unpredictable, and full of flavor. 🍯 Honey — because even in hard seasons, I deserve sweetness. 🌿 Mint — because growth doesn’t have to shout to be real. I did...
Read more

Zesty Spinach Chicken Spaghetti: A Simple Bowl of Sunshine

-
Image
  Zesty Spinach Chicken Spaghetti: A Simple Bowl of Sunshine Sometimes, healing looks like lighting a candle and diving into your shadow work. Other times? It looks like a quick spaghetti dish that reminds you life doesn’t have to be so heavy. This week, I opened my fridge to odds and ends—leftover chicken, a handful of spinach, half a box of spaghetti. And in true Beyond Lemonade fashion, I decided to turn what I had into something that nourished me body and soul. This isn’t just a recipe. It’s a reminder that we don’t have to wait for the perfect moment, the perfect pantry, or the perfect version of ourselves to make magic. We just have to show up—with what we have—and trust that a little lemon zest and a lot of heart go a long way. This Sunshine Noodle Bowl is light, bright, and full of feel-good fuel. Whether you're feeding your family, your inner child, or your healing self, this one’s for you. 🍋✨ Zesty Spinach Chicken Spaghetti (aka Sunshine Noodle Bowl) This light, b...
Read more

🌿 The Lemon Chef’s Favorite Affirmation

-
Image
 🌿 The Lemon Chef’s Favorite Affirmation I say it every morning in the mirror, before my day begins: “My pain was real. So is my power.” There was a time I couldn’t look myself in the eyes and say anything kind. Too many scars, too many memories that made me flinch. I had survived abuse that shattered my sense of safety. I had lived through nights of homelessness, wondering where my babies and I would sleep. I had faced illness that made my body feel like it was betraying me. For years, I let those moments define me. Every story I told myself started with my wounds. And then—one day—I decided I didn’t want to be just the sum of what happened to me. I started with this affirmation. At first, it felt impossible. My voice would catch on the word power . But I kept going. Morning after morning. And slowly, the truth of it sank in: I am not pretending the pain didn’t happen. I am simply refusing to let it be the only thing that tells my story. If you’ve forgotten who yo...
Read more