Our deepest wounds often shape us as much as our greatest joys. The pain we carry—and the ways we learn to move through it—can define who we become. We asked community members from a broad array of industries to reflect on their defining wounds and have shared the responses below.

Nora Stefanescu

I was shaped by three core wounds: value, visibility, and vitality, and each became an initiatory doorway. Value (self-worth & money): I grew up hearing “you’re nothing,” and it branded my nervous system. For years I undercharged, overgave, and subconsciously apologized for existing. Healing looked like re-parenting my worth: hypnosis to rewrite the script, language-as-frequency to speak value out loud, courageous pricing, and clean boundaries. Read More>>

Jeromy Rosa

I would say the defining wounds would be my scars on my face. I got bit by a pitbull when I was 5 and I’ve had to learn to accept myself since that happened. I always thought people looked at me differently and subconsciously felt like they judged me because of it but I’ve gradually learned that’s usually not the case. Read More>>

Veronia Anile

I was born into trauma. Abandoned by my own mother, only to be kidnapped into a life of torture. I was raised in silence, shame, and survival. I endured sexual abuse, psychological torment, physical illness, spiritual disconnection, and deep emotional isolation. I carried wounds that no one wanted to see, and most of my adult life, I tried to numb them. Read More>>

Edda Manriquez

There are several hardships I have had to endure and I have tried to approach them with as much grace as my humanity allows me to do. Read More>>

Morgan Holcomb

I’ve always felt lonely. I was an only child to brilliant and avant garde parents who were very loving, but I never really felt like I fit in with the priorities of my peers. When my little sister was born, I adored her, but our age gap made it impossible for me to expect her to understand me until much later. Read More>>

Asher Phoenix

TRIGGER WARNING: mention of rape, sexual assault, PTSD I have waited 6 years to discuss this publicly, and I think I’m finally ready to do so. The next chapter of my healing starts today by coming forward with my story. Read More>>