Core Wounds & Healing: Unpacking the Stories We Carry

We all have them—those hidden splinters buried deep beneath the surface. They’re the old stories, handed down or picked up along the way, that quietly dictate how we move through the world. Core wounds are those primal beliefs etched into our bones: “I am unlovable.” “I am not enough.” “I am too much.” “I am bad.” Sometimes, we don’t even know they’re there until life bumps up against them and suddenly, ouch—there they are, raw as ever.

Most of us spend years trying to outrun or cover up our wounds. We learn to overachieve, to people-please, to build walls or wear masks that keep the pain at bay. But here’s the thing: what we bury, we carry. These wounds shape how we relate to others, how we see ourselves, and even how we love (or refuse to love) the world around us.

Healing isn’t about erasing these old stories. It’s about bringing them into the light, getting curious, and letting compassion do its work. It means tracing the threads of where these beliefs started—maybe from a parent who couldn’t give what you needed, or a moment of deep rejection that landed like a punch. It means witnessing your pain without turning away, and then (slowly, bravely) offering yourself the kind of understanding you’ve always craved.

In my own life—and in my coaching work—I’ve seen that once you name the wound, it loses some of its power. When you’re willing to look at the places that ache, you start to realize: you’re not broken, just human. And being human means you get to choose new beliefs, new ways of being. The old scripts don’t have to be your forever story.

Here’s your gentle reminder: your core wounds are not your identity. They’re chapters, not the whole book. With patience and self-compassion, you can set down the burdens you’ve carried for so long. The healing begins with a single question: “What if this story isn’t true?”

With you in the messy middle,

Sarah