Hey y’all,
I want to be honest and transparent with you today.
This past weekend, I experienced a setback.
Someone my ex was involved with called my phone all weekend, and if I'm being truthful, it triggered me. It brought up emotions I thought I had already worked through. We aren't together, so naturally I found myself asking, Why are they calling me? Why is this happening?
But after sitting with it, praying about it, and reflecting, I realized something important: not every distraction deserves your attention.
Sometimes when you're finally finding peace, focusing on your purpose, and making progress, distractions show up. They come in the form of people, situations, memories, or old habits that try to pull you back into places you've already fought hard to leave.
For months, my ex begged to be back in my life. Against my better judgment, I allowed the door to open again. And here we are.
I genuinely believed I was healed—or at least well on my way. What I've learned is that healing isn't always a straight line. Sometimes it's like a wound that has already begun to close. Then something unexpectedly hits that same spot, and suddenly you're reminded that there's still a little healing left to do.
That doesn't mean you've failed.
It doesn't mean all your progress disappeared.
It simply means you're human.
What disappointed me most wasn't the situation itself—it was realizing I had allowed myself to get pulled down to a level I worked so hard to rise above. I was happy. I was content. I was focused on my business, my goals, my health, and my future. For a moment, I allowed two people and their choices to occupy space in my mind that belonged to my purpose.
And that's a lesson I don't plan on repeating.
I made the decision to cut ties completely because protecting my peace is no longer optional—it's necessary.
Life is too short to spend years investing energy into someone who repeatedly shows you they are not capable of handling your heart with care.
The truth is, when you've shared years of your life with someone, it's not always easy to walk away. When someone pleads for another chance, it can pull at your heart. Especially when you're naturally loving, forgiving, and always trying to see the good in people.
But one thing I've learned is that having a good heart doesn't mean you should ignore red flags.
Being kind doesn't require you to tolerate dysfunction.
Forgiveness doesn't require access.
And loving someone doesn't mean they deserve a permanent seat at your table.
As Christians, we're called to love like Jesus. But we're also called to use wisdom. Not everyone who asks for another chance has truly changed. Sometimes people simply miss access to the version of you that loved them despite their behavior.
This experience reminded me that I am in control of who I allow into my life. I refuse to live as a victim of my circumstances. I refuse to let old chapters keep rewriting themselves in my future.
Because here's the reality:
I turn 30 next month.
And I refuse to carry old dysfunction into a new decade.
I left for a reason.
God allowed me to see what I needed to see for a reason.
Why would I spend years praying for growth, healing, peace, and purpose only to voluntarily return to the very thing I asked God to free me from?
No.
This season is about clearing out the old so there's room for the new.
What God has for us requires preparation. Sometimes that preparation looks like letting go of people, habits, and situations that no longer align with where we're headed.
So consider this my early birthday gift to myself:
Choosing me.
Choosing peace.
Choosing healing.
Choosing purpose.
Lately, I've been speaking these affirmations over my life:
✨ You are loved.
✨ You are healed.
✨ You are beautiful.
✨ You are confident.
✨ You are strong.
✨ You are smart.
✨ You can achieve anything you set your mind to.
✨ You are wealthy mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually, and financially.
✨ God will send the right people into your life—people who love, support, and value you the way He intended.
And if you find yourself triggered, discouraged, or briefly walking down a road you fought hard to leave, give yourself grace.
Feel the emotion.
Pray.
Journal.
Learn the lesson.
Then keep moving forward.
A bad weekend does not erase months of growth.
One emotional moment does not cancel your healing.
One setback does not mean you're starting over.
For me, the proof that this season is different isn't that I got upset. The proof is that I didn't stay there.
Yes, I had my moment.
Yes, I said what I needed to say.
But by Sunday night and Monday morning, I made the decision to get back into my lane. I had another small bump along the way, but today is Wednesday, and I'm showing up again.
For myself.
For my business.
For my purpose.
And for all of you.
Because healing isn't about never falling.
It's about getting back up faster each time.
I love y'all.
Until next time,
Jewell ❤️✨
"The comeback is always greater when peace is leading the way."
Reflection: What To Do When Old Situations Try To Pull You Back
If you're reading this and you've found yourself triggered by an old relationship, friendship, family situation, or even an old version of yourself, I want you to remember this:
A setback does not erase your growth.
Sometimes God allows old situations to resurface, not to tempt us back into them, but to show us how much we've changed. What once had the power to completely derail you may only slow you down for a moment today. That's growth.
Take a moment and ask yourself these questions:
• Why did I leave this situation in the first place?
Write down the honest answer. Don't romanticize the memories. Remember the reality.
• Does this situation align with the life I'm trying to build?
If it doesn't fit your future, it may not deserve access to your present.
• Am I responding from a place of healing or hurt?
Sometimes our emotions want immediate relief, but healing requires wisdom and patience.
• What lesson is God trying to show me through this moment?
Instead of asking "Why is this happening to me?" ask "What am I supposed to learn from this?"
When you feel yourself slipping, try this simple process:
Pause
Don't react immediately. Give yourself space to think before responding.
Pray
Ask God for clarity, wisdom, and peace before making any decisions.
Process
Journal your feelings honestly. Get them out of your head and onto paper.
Protect Your Peace
Set boundaries without guilt. Not everyone deserves unlimited access to you.
Proceed
Keep moving forward. Don't allow one moment to become a permanent destination.
Remember, healing isn't proven by never being triggered. Healing is proven by how quickly you return to yourself after being triggered.
Today, I choose peace.
I choose growth.
I choose the future God is preparing for me.
And I pray you choose the same.
Journal Prompt:
"What am I still holding onto that God has been asking me to release, and what could my life look like if I finally let it go?"