Dear Freedom

“You don’t have to

run to be free.

You just have to come

home to yourself.”

@myjourneycompasshealth1

First time reading? Start with the [Series Introduction]. This is the final reflection in the Dear Needs series. You can also explore [Dear Love], [Dear Safety], [Dear Connection], [Dear Power], [Dear Boundaries], and [Dear Understanding].

Author’s Note: This letter is part of the Dear Needs series—seven reflective letters inspired by the 12 core emotional needs for healing by Tim Fletcher. These writings explore common themes in trauma recovery, including neglect, abandonment, and emotional survival. Please read at your own pace, and return only when it feels safe to do so.

Dear Freedom,

For a long time, we confused you with escape. Freedom meant leaving, running, surviving, disappearing.

We craved open doors but feared what was on the other side. We wanted permission but learned to ask for forgiveness instead. We stayed small to stay safe. We stayed silent to stay loved.

But now we know: Freedom isn’t the absence of limits. It’s the presence of self. It’s the moment you take a full breath without bracing. The moment you say, “I don’t have to earn rest.” It’s asking yourself what you want — and listening with curiosity, not shame.

True freedom doesn’t always look like rebellion. Sometimes it looks like returning — to your body, your boundaries, your quiet wants. It’s not loud or reckless. It’s rooted. It’s real.

And maybe it starts in the smallest of moments: Choosing slowness. Telling the truth. Letting yourself belong — without performing. You don’t have to run to be free.

You just have to come home to yourself. Freedom isn’t the absence of rules. It’s the ability to live by your own rhythm, without fear of punishment or exile.

Freedom doesn’t always look like flight. Sometimes it’s the soft press of your feet on the sand — a return to self, one grounded step at a time. Dear Freedom — the final letter in the Dear Needs series.

Clinical Insight

After trauma, freedom is often misunderstood as disconnection — cutting ties, burning bridges, or refusing structure. But in healing, freedom becomes relational. It’s not about isolation. It’s about autonomy. Freedom is the internal experience of choice: I get to decide who I am, what I need, and how I live.

Inward Invitation

“Freedom begins where

we feel safe enough

to reconcile with

our inner self.”

@myjourneycompasshealth1

A moment of stillness. Freedom doesn’t require a grand gesture.

It begins with honoring your inner “yes” and “no” — even in quiet ways.

@myjourneycompasshealth1

Journal Prompts from your Dear Freedom Companion:

• When did I learn to associate freedom with escape?

• What does healthy freedom look and feel like in my body?

• Where in my life am I still living from permission instead of presence?

• How can I give myself space to be, without needing to earn it?

Resources for Deeper Healing:

• Permission to Come Home – Jenny T. Wang, PhD

• Rest Is Resistance – Tricia Hersey

• The 12 Essential Needs for Healing from Complex Trauma  Tim Fletcher

← Previous: [Dear Power]

Thank you for journeying through the Dear Needs series with me. May these letters continue to meet you in quiet, healing ways — whenever you need them. If you want to hold space for further healing, book your free-15-minute consultation below or visit our Patient Resource page for more information.