Have you ever caught yourself saying, “This is just how I’ve always been,” or “I can’t change—I’ve messed up too much”?
It’s a painful, quiet resignation many of us live with. But here’s something powerful I want you to hear: your past doesn’t define you. It may have shaped you, yes—but it doesn’t get to write your story’s ending.
Understanding the Weight of the Past
Our minds are built to remember, analyze, and protect. When we experience pain, trauma, or repeated failure, our brain stores it to avoid future harm. But often, this protective memory becomes a cage. Old wounds, shame, regrets, or even labels from childhood start to dictate how we see ourselves—“I’m not lovable,” “I always mess things up,” “I’m broken.” Psychologically, this is called core belief formation—where repeated experiences build unhelpful or rigid narratives about ourselves. And unless challenged, we live as if these beliefs are facts.
You Are More Than What Happened To You
Here’s the truth: you are not your past actions, your childhood conditioning, your diagnosis, or your family patterns.
You are a dynamic, ever-evolving human being. And with awareness, support, and effort—you can rewrite how your past influences you.
Healing doesn’t mean erasing the past.
It means understanding it, integrating it, and no longer being controlled by it.
What Therapy Can Offer
As a clinical psychologist, I’ve worked with individuals who felt stuck in identities forged through years of pain. But I’ve also witnessed people reclaim their sense of self—one session, one insight, one boundary at a time.
Psychotherapy helps you:
· Understand your past without drowning in it.
· Recognize unhealthy patterns you may have internalized.
· Create space between your history and your present choices.
· Build new narratives rooted in self-compassion, not self-judgment.
A Gentle Reminder
It’s okay to have a past that hurts. We all do. But it’s also okay to grow beyond it.
You are allowed to:
Every moment offers a new choice. Healing isn’t linear, and it’s never too late to begin.
Still You, Evolving.
If you’re ready to explore the layers of your story and step into a version of yourself that feels more aligned, I’m here to walk that path with you.
Warmly,
Shagun Katoch
Clinical Psychologist | The Light
