Read time: 5 minutes.
This is your permission to pause and take a little time for yourself.

While everyone’s answer will be different, I’m willing to bet that most of you, when faced with difficulty, might withdraw into isolation and try to nurse the pain alone, in silence.

Does that sound familiar?

Many people believe that recovering from pain has to happen in isolation. Maybe that’s because we know that other people are more comfortable seeing us happy, rather than sad, angry, or confused. So, we convince ourselves that we have to wait until every question is answered, and our footing feels completely steady again before we re-enter the world.

And yet, one of the most powerful truths about human resilience is that service can become part of the healing process.

When you choose to channel challenges into protecting, supporting, or uplifting someone else, something transformative happens. Instead of being consumed by what you’ve lost, you begin to discover what you can create from what you’ve lived through.

Stepping forward into service does not mean ignoring what happened or pretending the road behind you wasn’t brutal. And it certainly doesn’t mean exposing your emotions or telling your story before you’re ready.

It means recognizing that you do not have to wait until you feel completely repaired to begin making a difference. Even in the middle of your deepest ache, offering support to another person can help you reconnect with a sense of strength and give your struggle a more meaningful direction.

Love,
Jay ❤️

Beth Holloway, mother of Natalee Holloway, shares the full story of her 18-year search for answers after Natalee disappeared during a high school graduation trip to Aruba in 2005. She recounts the desperate first hours of the search, coming face to face with Joran van der Sloot, the corruption and dead ends that delayed justice for nearly two decades, and the 2010 extortion attempt that ultimately helped uncover the truth.

In Ask Jay, my newest format on On Purpose, I listen to voice notes from real listeners and help work through whatever is weighing on their minds.

Do you have a question about a friendship breakup? Maybe you’re still carrying pain from a past loss, or you might be currently navigating one right now and could use some advice.

Send your question or voice note to [email protected]. Tell me what’s on your heart.*

Remember, I’m in your corner today, tomorrow, and anytime you need a little permission to believe that everything is going to work out.