#outofthedarknessbook

[drdeeknight]

So many of my childhood experiences were mired in shame, but intentional kindness, intentional self-compassion, intentional gratitude to my body, for my body, for surviving and staying present—all have been powerful antidotes. I frequently repeat: “I am being kind and gentle with myself.” “Thank you.” I also stopped asking myself, “What is your problem?” And started asking, “What do you need? What is your body saying? What can you give yourself right now?” Practice saying kind things to yourself. Little-by-little. Then practice giving yourself what you need. ✨ [image #1 text: This is the heart of self-compassion—that we allow ourselves the room to not be flawless. that we give ourselves the space to grieve those things. Image #2: painting that says “whole” stacked on plaque that pronounced and defines the word inspire: verb, (1) to encourage somebody to a greater effort, enthusiasm, or creativity. (2) to awaken a particular feeling in somebody. Latin-inspirare “to breathe” plaque stacked on blue felt letter board that says, I am being kind and gentle with myself. Thank you. end image texts.] ✨ #selfcompassion #shame #kindness #selftalk #traumarecovery #selfcare #healing #whole #healingjourney #psychologist #selfhelp #therapy #therapeutic #OutOfTheDarknessBook #psychotherapist #shame #youarebrave #selfkindness #selflove #courage #courageous #wholeness #traumacare #allaboutlove #youarewhole #thehealingcollective #thehealingcollectiveal #therapyforblackgirls #therapyforblackmen https://www.instagram.com/p/CS_zCTEn4ul/?utm_medium=tumblr

[drdeeknight]

Trauma tells the lie that it’s the biggest thing, the only thing. Surviving pain is not your only story. The story of who you are is far richer than what you’ve suffered. Stories of success, and disappointment, and love, and heartbreak, and bouncing back, and joy. We are more than our worst moments. [image text: You are more than the sum of what’s been done to you. Your story is not over. There is more. You are more. End image text] ✨ #yourstory #traumarecovery #traumacare #storiesmatter #lovestories #connection #healing #heartwork #whole #healingcommunity #healingincommunity #youaremore #lovestory #healingrelationships #therapeutic #journaling #journalingcommunity #journalingprompts #OutOfTheDarknessBook #lifestory #lifestories #lifestories_community #thehealingcollective #thehealingcollectiveAL #healingstories #story #youreworthy #youreworthit #healingjourney #wholeness https://www.instagram.com/p/CRZbwGjFkx0/?utm_medium=tumblr

[drdeeknight]

Been quieter these last few weeks bc the writing pressed so much out of me that I shared with a few friends “I couldn’t dream clearly through all the tears.” A friend replied, “It's our job to dream for you and believe for you when you can't.” 😭 I’m one grateful girl. I've finally finished, and it’s on to editing, so I get to indulge in these long-awaited books. Lonnngggg-awaited!!! I hope my family is ready for whoever I'll become as these two change me. Starting with Unbound then Atlas with my husband and kiddos💖. Both books are visually stunning, and Atlas is so heavy, like literally it weighs a lot. Also, y’all are nestled between my Bible & bell hooks, so you know the love is real. Looking fwd to this ritual of replenishing. ✨Starting to send out artwork next week for those who've joined our "offline" community and want random beauty sent to you via snail mail and brief messages on wading through all life is. #LinkInBio ✨ [image 1 description is a picture of two books: Unbound, by @taranajaneen, which has a colorful image of the author by artist @bisabutler and Atlas of the Heart, by @brenebrown, which has a bright red cover, gold writing, and a multimedia anatomical heart. Image 2 is a small bookshelf with books stacked from left to right that include, Healing the Wounded Heart by @danballender, Growing Gold by @syrah.kai, all about love by bell hooks, You Are Your Best Thing, Black Joy by @tmlgwriter, Unbound, Atlas of the Heart, my painted bible, and 3 books by @jaiyajohn. End image descriptions.] ✨ #metoo #Unbound #letsgo #winterreading #springreading #AtlasOfTheHeart #OutOfTheDarknessBook #readyforchange #unboundbook #metoomovement #readytochange #couplesreading #liberation #thehealingcollective #healingbooks #healingstories #replenish https://www.instagram.com/p/CbOSzNuFhLI/?utm_medium=tumblr

[drdeeknight]

Ahhh, got the final pieces of this book I've been writing out of my hands and on to editing, so I get to indulge in these long-awaited books. Lonnngggg-awaited!!! I hope my family is ready for whoever I'll become as these two change me. Starting with @taranajaneen’s then @brenebrown’s with my husband and kiddos 💖. I’ve been quieter these last few weeks bc the writing pressed so much out of me that I shared with a few friends “I can’t dream clearly through all the tears.” One friend replied, “It's our job to dream for you and believe for you when you can't.” 😭 I’m one grateful girl. btw, both of these books are beautiful from the outset, y’all, and Atlas is so heavy, like literally it weighs a lot. Also, y’all are nestled between my Bible & bell hooks, so you know the love is real. lol Looking fwd to this ritual of replenishing. ✨ [image description: Picture of two books: Unbound, by Tarana Burke, which has a colorful image of the author by artist @bisabutler and atlas of the heart, by Brené Brown, which has a bright red cover, gold writing, and a multimedia anatomical heart. Image 2 is one of my bookshelves with End image descriptions.] ✨ #metoo #Unbound #letsgo #winterreading #springreading #AtlasOfTheHeart #OutOfTheDarknessBook #readyforchange #unboundbook #metoomovement #readytochange #couplesreading #liberation #thehealingcollective #healingbooks #healingstories #replenish https://www.instagram.com/p/CbKLiYguhoh/?utm_medium=tumblr

[drdeeknight]

Boundaries can be “yes, but,” “yes, if,” “yes, when.” It is not always saying no. Sometimes it’s setting limits around your yes and saying yes to all the things you need to. Slow down enough to give a “boundaried yes” to the things you want, even if only in moderation. Opt out of conversations and opinions that oppose your peace. Make time for the joy you want to soak in and the relationships you want to nurture. ✨ [image 1 text says: Boundaries are not always “no. Boundaries can be all the healthy things you give a yes. Boundaries can be the gentleness with which you treat yourself that teaches others how to treat you. image 2 text says: Practice boundaried language aloud, including time boundaries. 📌I’ll be staying 1 hour. 📌I have 20 minutes. 📌I’m leaving at 6. Revisit and rehearse your boundaries. Happy holidays! End image text.] ✨ #OutOfTheDarknessBook #boundaries #morningmotivation #boundariedyes #sayingyes #sayingno #healthyboundaries #setboundaries #settingboundaries #setfree #therapeutic #nottherapy #liberateyourself #liberated #freedom #free #besetfree #therapy #therapistsofinstagram #therapist #freetherapy #psychologistsofinstagram #healingjourney #thehealingcollective #thehealingcollectiveAL #chooseyou #sethealthyboundaries #traumarecovery #traumacare #selfcare https://www.instagram.com/p/CXtj2KKlHm1/?utm_medium=tumblr

[drdeeknight]

We hear a lot about trauma being passed down generationally, but research shows goodness like resilience is passed down, too. You can embrace and pass on generational healing and wholeness. Do whatever you need to do to be and stay free. ✨ [image text: Some of you are still surviving your unhealed parent. Do whatever you need to do. Wholeness is also generational and can start with you. End image text] ✨ #OutOfTheDarknessBook #reparenting #selflove #selfcare #selfprotection #youarewhole #epigenetics #intergenerationaltrauma #healingincommunity #selfcompassion #youdeserveit #thehealingcollective #thehealingcollectiveAL #transgenerationalhealing #transgenerationaltrauma #reparentingyourself #intergenerationalhealing #intergenerational #wholeness #generationaltrauma #selfloveishard #reparentingyourself #reparentyourself #giveyourselflove #ittakestime #giveyourselftime #iamhealing #traumarecovery #abuserecovery #youdeserve #generationalhealing https://www.instagram.com/p/CXPbaRDlu36/?utm_medium=tumblr

[drdeeknight]

You are worthy of celebration right now, as is. I would never treat my children (or patients) the way I used to treat myself, waiting to celebrate the better version of them. Don’t wait to celebrate some future version of yourself who’s happier, fitter, calmer, more satisfied with your career, or more confident in your calling. You deserve goodness now, kindness now, love now. 💖 ✨ [image text: It’s brave work, being present, celebrating the current you. Allow yourself to be who you are right now. Allow yourself to honor who you are today. End image text.] ✨ #OutOfTheDarknessBook #worthiness #compassion #loveyourselfnow #lovewhoyouare #selfcompassion #bravery #forgivingyourself #selflove #selfcare #forgiveyourself #worthy #bebrave #youareworthit #youareworthy #dontwait #lovingyourself #lovewell #thehealingcollective #thehealingcollectiveAL #therapistsofinstagram #psychologistsofinstagram #healingjourney #iamhealing #iamwhole #youdeserve #freedom #peace #loveyourself #acceptyourself https://www.instagram.com/p/CXG2tWsF_DC/?utm_medium=tumblr

[drdeeknight]

You can practice gratitude and still grief stays as a long term companion. This says nothing of your faith, your hope, or your capacity to love again just as deeply. My goal is not to rush away any grief but to allow it as many other facets as it reveals. Sometimes I experience deep sorrow, and sometimes I’m enraged. Yet my life is no less filled with joy and peace. You don’t have to live a singular existence. Relationships are complex. You are complex. You don’t have to choose one emotion or experience over others. Be whoever you are. ✨ [image text: white wording on pink to purple gradient. Grieving does not negate your gratitude. You get to live into the complexity of your humanity. You get to mourn whoever and whatever you’re missing today, no matter how thankful you are for everything else. End image text.] ✨ #OutOfTheDarknessBook #grief #humanity #selfcompassion #kindness #youhavepermission #giveyourselfpermission #thehealingcollective #wholeness #healing #peace #gratitude #thanksgiving #mourning #thehealingcollectiveAL #begrateful #beyou #justbe #thankful #therapistsofinstagram #psychologistsofinstagram #clinicalpsychology #clinicalpsychologist #healingrelationships #rest #compassion #heal #giveyourselfgrace #healingandwhole #thriving https://www.instagram.com/p/CW1Bu-ZlOV2/?utm_medium=tumblr

[drdeeknight]

An empathic response can be hearing someone’s story out and having nothing to say. Being quiet. Being in awe of their survival and choice to still be here. It’s a privilege to be stunned into silence. Honor that with your presence. Just show up. ✨ [image text: crossed out quite that says, “If that were me, I would have…” and quote. If it wasn’t you sit with that. Be quiet. Listen. Empathy starts with your ears, not your mouth.🤫 end image text.] ✨ #empathy #showingup #OutOfTheDarknessBook#silence #therapeutic #justshowup #justbequiet #sitwithit #sitwithme #showup #bequiet #howtobeafriend #friendshipadvice #onbeinghuman #thehealingcollective #thehealingcollectiveAL #healingwounds #traumacare #traumarecovery #howtoheal #howtobebrave #healing #iamhealing #iamwhole #healingothers #sharingstories #healingincommunity #storytelling #storylistening #listenwell https://www.instagram.com/p/CWyZde2FJuq/?utm_medium=tumblr

[drdeeknight]

Begin to build a vocabulary of healing words and phrases. “Maybe,” “Will be,” “Still,” “Soon,” words of hope and expectation. Practice them, make them readily available for the healing you’re seeking. Begin to feed your dreams the right narratives, and living your dreams will be more accessible. Begin to expanded your language to include wholeness and anticipation of it. ✨ [image text : I m healing still seems possible to all still seeking it. I hope “some day” is still in your vocabulary. End image text.] ✨ #OutOfTheDarknessBook #storytelling #rewriteyourstory #revision #storyteller #storytellers #tellyourstory #tellyourtruth #changeyourstory #narrativetherapy #traumarecovery #traumacare #iamhealing #iamwhole #healingincommunity #healingthroughstorytelling #thehealingcollective #thehealingcollectiveAL #newstory #newstories #healingstories #thegoodstoriesproject #sharethelove #storytellerscafe #lifestory #anewthing #anewsong #tellyourselfthetruth #redefineyourself #healyourself https://www.instagram.com/p/CWBViufFIHL/?utm_medium=tumblr

[drdeeknight]

You will be healing until your last breath. That is a gift. Allow healing to look different than you'd expected. Healing is lifelong and not linear. Some days it feels like nothing is happening, like nothing is working, like you’ve gone backward even. Give yourself time. Speak to yourself about the wholeness and healing that will always be yours. It is worthy work, and you are worthy of it. ✨ [image text on pink to purple gradient: Sometimes you have to redefine “getting over it”. Healing is lifelong. That used to anger me. It’s now a needed promise. I am whole. I am healing. Both are true. End image text.] ✨ #OutOfTheDarknessBook#giveittime #healing #whole #giveyourselftime #giveyourselfgrace #giveyourselfabreak #healingtakestime #timeheals #healing #heartwork #selftalk #youareworthit #youareenough #healingcommunity #healingincommunity #healingrelationships #therapeutic #healingwork #therapistsofinstagram #iamhealing #iamwhole ##lifestory #lifestories #selftalkmatters #youarehealing #thehealingcollective #thehealingcollectiveAL #youareworthy #youreworthy https://www.instagram.com/p/CV356jGlszS/?utm_medium=tumblr

[drdeeknight]

Self-compassion takes time and repetition. Silencing shame is a lifelong practice of stumbling, and rising, and choosing to love yourself again and again. Give yourself permission to not be flawless. ✨ [Image text: Sometimes the bravest thing you’ll do is forgive yourself…again. ✨ end image text.] ✨ #OutOfTheDarknessBook #selfforgiveness #selfcompassion #bravery #wefalldownbutwegetup #forgiveness #getbackupagain #forgivingyourself #selflove #selfcare #weallmakemistakes #getbackup #forgiveyourself #beginagain #tryagain #youareworthit #youareworthy #worththework #lovingyourself #lovewell #thehealingcollective #thehealingcollectiveAL #therapistsofinstagram #psychologistsofinstagram #healingjourney #iamhealing #iamwhole #youdeserve #freedom #peace https://www.instagram.com/p/CViV1jJFABw/?utm_medium=tumblr

[drdeeknight]

Don’t let trauma be the final chapter, either. Keep writing your story. Keep practice presence, being as fully here as possible. You deserve to have your life now take up more space than your life then. You are here, and that is a miracle. You are a miracle. ✨ [image text: Your trauma may feel like the longest chapter of your life but it is a chapter. It is not the book. End image text] ✨ #OutOfTheDarknessBook #traumarecovery #healingcentered #comehometoyourself #traumacare #practicingpresence #bepresent #bepresentnow #yourpastdoesnotdefineyou #yourtraumaisvalid #youarehealing #youarewhole #yourstorymatters #keepwritingyourstory #keepwriting #painistemporary #youdeservepeace #youdeservelove #youdeserve #writeyourstory #knowyourstory #thehealingcollective #thehealingcollectiveal #traumahealing #healingjourney #healingtrauma #iamhealing #iamwhole #yourstoryisnotover #yourstory #writeyourstory https://www.instagram.com/p/CVDjKx2lHZ2/?utm_medium=tumblr

[drdeeknight]

What you have to offer is enough. YOU are enough. I won’t let lies of “not enough” stop me from loving more, sharing more, and healing others more. It’s vital that we answer these internal questions just as loudly as we hear them. “Yes, I am enough!” Something so healing is coming your way. 🤗 ✨ [image text:Just yesterday, I wondered, Am I healed enough to write this next book? Who am I to speak on these things? Lies of “not enough” will always exist. Write anyway. Love anyway. End image text.] ✨ #OutOfTheDarknessBook #iamenough #youareenough #iamhealing #iamwhole #youarehealing #begentlewithyourself #youdeservepeace #youarewhole #youreenough #youareready #stoplyingtoyourself #answeryourself #innervoice #innercritic #innerconfidence #whoareyou #howdareyou #whodoyouthinkyouare #silenceyourinnercritic #iamwriting #writerscommunity #writersofinstagram #writersblock #writingcommunity #healingincommunity #therapistsofinstagram #yougotthis #youcandoit #imenough https://www.instagram.com/p/CU58-vrFDXE/?utm_medium=tumblr

[drdeeknight]

It’s hard to focus on love when your safety needs are unmet. Becoming a safe place for you takes the intentional risk of lowering the walls you erected as protection from others, it takes softening to receive kindness and love from others, it takes giving love to yourself. As the walls come down, there’s a chance you’ll be hurt, but also a chance you’ll be loved, deeply loved. ✨ [image text: If you weren’t protected as a child, you may have built walls or bricked your heart in where harm can’t harden you, and love can’t soften you. I hope you connect with people and places that are safe enough to take that armor off. I hope you are a safe place for yourself. End image text] ✨ #OutOfTheDarknessBook #reparenting #selflove #selfcare #selfprotection #vulnerability #connectioniskey #healingincommunity #selfcompassion #youdeserveit #thehealingcollective #thehealingcollectiveAL #safeplace #safeplaces #reparentingyourself #beingyourself #becomingyou #lovingyourself #lovingyou #selfloveishard #reparentingyourself #reparentyourself #giveyourselflove #softbelly #strongback #ittakestime #giveyourselftime #loveyourself #youdeservepeace #youdeservelove #youdeserve https://www.instagram.com/p/CUu0ALvlrPS/?utm_medium=tumblr

[drdeeknight]

Your story is for YOU and those who will be set free by it. Fall in love with your own story. Write it, share it, own it fully. Do not be afraid to rewrite it, even. It is yours! ✨ [image text: Currently managing the tension of writing abt people who are still within earshot. People who will no doubt read my words and disagree. Let people disagree. Their story is their business. Your story is yours. Write, and share, and fall in love with your own story and life. End image text]. ✨ #OutOfTheDarknessBook #shareyourstory #healingthroughstorytelling #healingincommunity #loveyourstory #liveyourlife #bravery #healingcommunity #naming #healingwork #blackmentalhealth #journalingcommunity #thehealingcollective #thehealingcollectiveAL #tellyourstory #therapistsofinstagram #yourstoryisntoveryet #blacktherapists #psychologistsofinstagram #yourstory #yourstorymatters #blackpsychologist #wholeness #thriving #healingrelationships #youarewhole #healblackmanheal #healblackwomen #iamhealing #iamwhole https://www.instagram.com/p/CUNSsBclqlg/?utm_medium=tumblr