You Don’t Have to Carry It All

Welcome — I’m so glad you’re here.

This reflection was originally shared in my email newsletter. I’ve included it here in case you’d like to revisit it or explore it at your own pace. If you’re not yet subscribed and would like to receive insights like this directly in your inbox, you can
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The Healing Process: How to Work With Yourself, Not Against Yourself

Hello

I’m so glad you’re here.

Before we dive in, I want to take a moment to truly welcome you. Whether we’ve crossed paths before or this is your first time hearing from me, thank you for opening this email and stepping into this space with me.

This newsletter was created with intention - for those who feel deeply, who carry a lot, who are navigating healing, growth, or simply trying to come back to themselves. It’s a space to slow down, reflect, and reconnect. A space that honours your sensitivity, your strength, the depth of who you are and your self-awareness.

Each issue will offer gentle insights, practices, and questions to support your nervous system, your healing, and your inner clarity. My hope is that it feels like a soft landing.

Let’s begin...

When Healing Doesn’t Feel How We Hoped

Have you ever felt frustrated that your healing isn’t happening fast enough? That no matter how much therapy, mindfulness, or reflection you do, there are still moments that feel heavy?

If so, you’re not alone.

Healing isn’t about rushing to the finish line. It’s about learning to meet yourself where you are - with patience, self-trust, and a willingness to grow.

Why Healing Takes Time

Healing isn’t linear - it unfolds in layers - often in ways we don’t expect. Your nervous system needs time to integrate meaningful change, especially if you’ve experienced chronic stress or trauma.

Old wounds require safety before they can soften.

Healing isn't about “fixing” yourself - it's about learning to listen to what you need.

Working With Yourself Instead of Against Yourself

Mindfulness Tip:
Practice noticing your emotional patterns without judgement. Instead of asking yourself “Why am I like this?” try asking, "What do I need right now?"

🔍 Therapeutic Insight:
Sometimes frustration in the healing process is actually grief - grieving the years spent in survival mode.

A Gentle Question for This Week

What would it look like to be just 5% kinder to yourself this week?

Wherever you are in your healing journey, know this:
You are not behind.
You are exactly where you need to be.
Healing is an unfolding process - not a destination.

💬 What’s one small way you can give yourself grace this week? Hit reply and let me know - I read every message.

👉 Read More on Reclaiming Your Needs here

Lynne Protain

Lynne Protain is a Registered Psychotherapist (RP), Professional Certified Coach (PCC), and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) teacher based in Toronto.

Her work focuses on how people relate to responsibility, pressure, and emotional load over time - particularly when they are highly capable, thoughtful, and accustomed to carrying a great deal.

Lynne supports individuals navigating burnout, chronic stress, health transitions, and relational patterns shaped by long-standing roles of responsibility, caregiving, and over-functioning. Her writing explores what happens when capacity shifts quietly, and what becomes possible when people slow down enough to understand what has been accumulating rather than pushing through it.

In addition to her psychotherapy practice, Lynne works with professionals, leaders, and organizations through coaching, mindfulness-based programs, and workplace offerings.

Her approach integrates psychotherapy, mindfulness, somatic awareness, and coaching to support clarity, steadiness, and more sustainable ways of living and working.

https://www.lynneprotain.com
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When You’re the One Everyone Leans On 🌿

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5 Effective Ways to Recognize and Recover from Burnout