Healing Journeys: Finding Your Truth, Letting Go, and Learning to Trust Yourself

Chelsey Gilbert
Jun 22
4 min read

By Chelsey Gilber LMT ~ Owner Transformative Journeys ~ Host Transformative Talks

One of the most powerful things about hearing someone else's story is realizing you're not alone in your own.

In the first episode of the Healing Journeys series on Transformative Talks, I sat down with Scott Coolidge, founder of The Unveiled Soul, hairdresser, candle maker, intuitive reader, and someone who has spent years navigating his own path of healing, self-discovery, and spiritual growth.

Our conversation explored what it means to question old beliefs, embrace change, heal emotional wounds, and learn to trust yourself along the way. There were so many wonderful take aways from this conversation, I hope you go back and listen to the full episode.

Healing Happens in Layers

One thing that became clear throughout our conversation is that healing isn't a destination—it's a process. Scott shared how much of his journey has involved "unwiring" beliefs and expectations that were handed to him as a child and discovering what genuinely resonates with his soul today.

Many of us reach a point where we start asking questions:

Is this belief still serving me?
Am I living authentically?
What do I actually want?
Who am I outside of what I've been taught?

Those questions can feel uncomfortable, but they often become the doorway to deeper healing and self-awareness.

Change Can Feel Scary—Even When It's Good

Our brains naturally seek familiarity. Even positive changes can trigger fear because they take us into the unknown. We talked about how trauma, stress, and nervous system dysregulation can make change feel threatening, even when it's exactly what we need. Growth often requires us to take small steps forward before we feel ready. As Scott shared, many of the people who have created meaningful change in their lives didn't choose the "safe" path. They chose the path that aligned with their purpose, even when it felt uncertain. Sometimes courage isn't the absence of fear...it's moving forward while fear is sitting beside you.

Surrender Is Not Submission

One of my favorite moments from our conversation was when Scott said:"Surrender is not obedience. Surrender is not submission." Many of us associate surrender with giving up or losing our power. But true surrender is something different. It's acknowledging what is happening, releasing the need to control every outcome, and allowing yourself to move with life rather than constantly fighting against it.

Surrender says:

"I may not control everything around me, but I can choose how I respond."

That perspective can be incredibly empowering.

Your Nervous System Matters

As a bodyworker and somatic practitioner, I couldn't help but bring the nervous system into the conversation. When we're stuck in survival mode, our brains become focused on protection rather than possibility. We become reactive, lose perspective and struggle to hear our intuition.

Whether it's meditation, prayer, movement, breathwork, journaling, tarot, spending time in nature, or simply sitting quietly with a cup of tea, finding practices that help regulate your nervous system creates space for clarity. Often the answers we're looking for don't arrive in the chaos. They arrive when we finally slow down enough to hear them.

Letting Go Creates Space

A recurring theme throughout Scott's story was learning to release what no longer fits.

Relationships.Old identities.Beliefs.Expectations.Patterns. Not because those things were necessarily bad, but because they no longer aligned with who he was becoming. One of the exercises he recommends is making a list of the people, places, habits, and situations that no longer bring peace, growth, or fulfillment. Then sitting with each one honestly. What are you holding onto simply because it's familiar? What would happen if you created space for something new? Just like spring cleaning your home, emotional healing often requires clearing out what no longer serves you.

Nobody Is Responsible for Your Triggers but You

This part of the conversation may be challenging, but it's an important truth. Our triggers belong to us. Other people may activate them, but our healing happens when we become curious about why those reactions exist in the first place. I view triggers as a gift, an oppourtunity to go deeper in our healing journey.

Instead of asking:

"Why are they doing this to me?"

We can ask:

"Why is this affecting me so strongly?"

That shift moves us from blame into empowerment. Awareness allows us to respond differently, create healthier boundaries, and stop living on autopilot.

Give Yourself (and Others) Grace

One of the most beautiful reminders from this episode was that everyone is carrying something we cannot see. The person driving aggressively. The coworker who seems short-tempered. The stranger having a bad day. We never know the full story. Giving grace doesn't mean tolerating harmful behavior or abandoning boundaries. It simply means remembering our shared humanity. We can hold compassion and accountability at the same time.

The Advice Scott Would Give His Younger Self

When I asked Scott what message he would give himself ten years ago, his answer came immediately:"It's okay to rest."

For many of us, that message hits deeply. We've been conditioned to believe our worth is tied to productivity. That if we're not constantly working, striving, fixing, or achieving, we're somehow falling behind. But healing and growth requires rest. Our bodies, minds, and spirits require rest.

Sometimes the most productive thing we can do is pause.

Final Thoughts

If there's one takeaway from this conversation, it's this: You don't have to have everything figured out. You don't have to heal all at once. You don't have to walk the journey alone. Whether you're navigating change, questioning old beliefs, healing from past experiences, or simply trying to reconnect with yourself, every step forward matters.

Keep exploring.

Keep growing.

Keep trusting the process.

Your healing journey is unfolding exactly one step at a time.

Let us know if these insights resonated with you!

Make sure to Check out the Full Episode Related to this post.