Breaking the Cycle: Healing from Past Pain to Build Lasting Love

Have you ever felt stuck in a cycle of broken relationships, wondering why the same patterns keep repeating? I’ve been there, carrying unresolved pain from my past into new connections, hoping love alone could fix what was broken. It couldn’t—not until I confronted my own pain and began to heal.

When Josh and I first met, it felt like destiny. We shared dreams and an undeniable connection, but neither of us had dealt with the baggage we carried. Over time, that unhealed pain created distance, resentment, and misunderstandings, and our relationship fell apart. Josh left, and I was left shattered, standing in an empty apartment with my children and the cruel reminder of everything I had lost scrawled on the bathroom mirror.

Our years apart were filled with lessons. Josh took time to reflect and grow on his own, and I faced my pain head-on, learning how to stand tall without relying on someone else to complete me. When we reconnected, it wasn’t easy. We had to face our past honestly, forgive deeply, and commit to healing—first as individuals and then as a couple.

Here’s what I’ve learned: You can’t build a healthy relationship on a foundation of unhealed wounds. True healing starts within, by understanding your pain, owning it, and growing beyond it. Only then can you love without fear and be loved without conditions.

Josh and I aren’t perfect, but we’ve broken the cycle by choosing to do the hard work every day. Now, we help others through Second Chance Coaching, guiding individuals and couples to heal and build lasting connections. If our story resonates with you, know that you’re not alone. Healing is possible, and so is a love that lasts.