https://www.growwithrosario.com/blog daily 0.75 2026-08-25 https://www.growwithrosario.com/blog/burn-out-a-personal-reflection-a-path-towards-healing monthly 0.5 2026-08-25 https://video.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67defcdeab25030784298178/e329f43c-2975-4411-becd-e740abfa68ff/playlist.m3u8 https://video.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67defcdeab25030784298178/e329f43c-2975-4411-becd-e740abfa68ff/thumbnail Blog - Burnout: A Personal Reflection on the Path Towards Healing Blog - Burnout: A Personal Reflection on the Path Towards Healing https://video.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67defcdeab25030784298178/fd6b64b8-327c-44bc-9e79-018e1f54ab5c/playlist.m3u8 https://video.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67defcdeab25030784298178/fd6b64b8-327c-44bc-9e79-018e1f54ab5c/thumbnail Blog - Burnout: A Personal Reflection on the Path Towards Healing Blog - Burnout: A Personal Reflection on the Path Towards Healing https://www.growwithrosario.com/blog/embracing-your-period-as-a-time-of-healing monthly 0.5 2026-08-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67defcdeab25030784298178/bf8a9636-78b4-4d9c-adad-0fe416856f49/IMG_5342.jpeg Blog - Embracing Your Period as a Time of Healing - Make it stand out Being on your period can be difficult. It’s often dreaded and framed as a purely negative experience. But what if we could reframe it without pretending that the pain, fatigue and emotional changes aren’t real? Instead of seeing it only as an interruption, we might recognise it as an opportunity to slow down and check in with ourselves. It can become a reminder that our bodies carry us through so much and deserve care in return. Honouring the Strength It Takes For many women, a period comes with symptoms that are difficult to ignore: cramps, fatigue, discomfort or a feeling of heaviness throughout the body. In the past, I used to think, “I hate this. This is horrible.” I completely sympathise with anyone who feels that way, because I was right there too. Over time, I’ve tried to shift my perspective. Instead of focusing only on how difficult it is, I remind myself: look how strong I am to get through this every month. Women are often expected to continue with their usual responsibilities as though nothing is happening. Give yourself credit. Needing extra care during this time is not weakness. The Power of Slowing Down We live in a busy world that constantly tells us to achieve, work and do more. During your period, however, you may feel more tired or less able to maintain your usual pace. Instead of fighting this, what if you allowed yourself to slow down? Making your world a little smaller during this time isn’t failure; it’s care. You might curl up with your favourite comfort show, become absorbed in a good book, run a bath or make your favourite meal. You deserve that gentleness, and your body deserves it too. Honouring Your Emotional Landscape The emotional side of PMS or PMDD can be just as challenging as the physical symptoms. Your mood may dip, sometimes drastically. For me, this can bring negative thoughts about my self-worth, appearance and life. These experiences are not simply “all in your head.” PMS is thought to be connected to changing hormone levels and the way some people respond to them, although its exact cause is not fully understood. The NHS provides more information about PMS and available support. What I’ve found helpful is observing what is coming up rather than immediately reacting to it. Sometimes I simply notice my thoughts; at other times, I write everything down. I used to dismiss everything I felt during my period as irrational. Now I recognise that my feelings are real and worthy of attention. However, heightened feelings do not make every thought or interpretation accurate. I can ask myself: What has triggered me? Where am I feeling insecure? Does this still matter once my symptoms have passed? Sometimes a more melancholic side of me appears. Rather than resisting it, I might listen to music, allow myself to cry or watch something comforting. The aim isn’t to chase sadness or become consumed by it, but to give it some space. If emotional symptoms regularly interfere with your daily life or relationships, you deserve professional support rather than feeling that you simply have to endure them. Speaking Your Truth Without Causing Harm I’m normally quite calm, but during my period I can become angry more easily and regret it afterwards. Being on your period doesn’t give you permission to lash out or treat people badly. However, I’ve noticed that when I’m in pain or feeling low, I have less tolerance for situations I might normally let slide. Instead of reacting immediately, I can make a note of what bothered me and return to it when I feel calmer. If it still matters, I can express it more thoughtfully. My cycle has reminded me that my feelings and boundaries matter but so does the way I communicate them. When You Don’t Feel Attractive During your period, you might feel less attractive. Bloating, breakouts and tiredness can intensify negative thoughts about your appearance. I’ve learned to begin with acceptance. I remind myself that I don’t have to look perfect all the time. Looking or feeling slightly different for a few days doesn’t diminish my worth. Sometimes I want to retreat and cocoon, and that can be exactly what I need. At other times, I’ve attended social events, worn something I like and shown up despite not feeling my best. I’ve often found that people still respond to me with warmth and kindness. The flaws I had been obsessing over were far more noticeable to me than to anyone else. Whether you stay in or go out, caring for yourself can help you reconnect with your body. A slow skincare routine, face mask, warm bath or gentle massage can become an act of affection rather than an attempt to fix yourself. Supporting Yourself Practically One thing I’ve found helpful is a heated mat my Dad gave me. It has jade circles on it, although I suspect it is the warmth rather than the jade that brings relief. Heat pads, warm baths and gentle movement are among the measures recommended by the NHS for period pain. Rest, balanced meals, hydration and gentle exercise can support your general wellbeing. Keeping a symptom diary for at least two cycles may also help you identify patterns and explain them to your doctor. Comfort foods don’t need to become another source of guilt. If you want chocolate or ice cream, you can enjoy it. You might choose dark chocolate, fruit or a smoothie instead if that is what makes you feel good. Food doesn’t have to become another test you need to pass. Be cautious about supplements or herbal remedies promoted as ways to “balance” hormones. Evidence for many of these claims is limited, and natural products can still interact with medication. A doctor or pharmacist can advise you based on your circumstances. The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists provides guidance on PMS treatments. Severe pain should not simply be accepted as part of being a woman. If your pain is becoming worse, disrupting your life or accompanied by unusually heavy or irregular bleeding, speak to your GP. Breaking the Taboo There is no reason to be ashamed of your period. This matters in dating too. A partner’s willingness to respond with maturity and care is a green flag. Mocking or expressing disgust about a natural bodily process is not something you should have to accept. I wish society were more comfortable with someone saying, “I’m feeling unwell because of my period. Can I slow down today?” So many women continue as normal while hiding their discomfort because talking about it still feels unacceptable. How much you share about your cycle is entirely your decision. But the more openly and respectfully we discuss periods, the less isolated people may feel. Meeting Your Cycle With Compassion You don’t have to enjoy your period or describe it as beautiful. You don’t have to feel grateful for pain, and you should never ignore symptoms that need medical attention. Perhaps reframing your period is simply about replacing shame and self-criticism with curiosity and care. Your cycle doesn’t determine your worth, femininity or strength. But the way you respond to yourself during a difficult time can become an expression of self-respect. You don’t have to fight your body. You can listen to it, care for it and give yourself permission to slow down. https://www.growwithrosario.com/blog/more-than-a-feeling monthly 0.5 2026-03-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67defcdeab25030784298178/b48d48df-7d88-4d79-a2b6-23ac96b428b6/Butterflies+born+by+thy+wish%F0%9F%A6%8B%E2%9C%A8%EF%B8%8F.jpg Blog - More Than a Feeling?A Guest Blog by Psychotherapist & Counsellor Margaret Ward-Martin - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.growwithrosario.com/blog/breaking-the-stigma-suicide-awareness-month monthly 0.5 2026-08-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67defcdeab25030784298178/3daa0f1d-cb9e-40aa-bf26-10d7073e0161/-4.jpg Blog - Breaking the Stigma: Suicide Awareness Month - Make it stand out Why I Don’t Believe Suicide Is Selfish Content note: This post discusses suicide, suicide attempts, bereavement, and suicidal thoughts. Please take care while reading. If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 999 or go to A&E. In England, you can call NHS 111 and select mental health option 2 for urgent support. You can also call Samaritans free, at any time, on 116 123. Young people under 35, and anyone concerned about them, can contact PAPYRUS HopeLine 24/7 on 0300 102 2470 or text HOPE to 88247. World Suicide Prevention Day takes place on 10 September. In recognition of it, I want to share my perspective on what it’s like to have a family member survive a suicide attempt. My hope is to take a small step towards de-stigmatising suicide, highlighting the need for greater understanding and support, and showing the profound impact it can have on loved ones. Why I Don’t Believe Suicide Is Selfish The idea that suicide is selfish is something I completely disagree with. Suicidal thoughts and attempts can arise from unbearable psychological pain, whether that pain has existed for a long time or has been intensified by mental illness and a sudden, severe drop in mood. Someone in that position isn’t necessarily trying to hurt the people who love them. They are trying to find a way out of pain that feels impossible to survive. People experiencing suicidal thoughts can still care deeply about others. Some believe they are a burden, even when that isn’t true. Hopelessness, trauma, or mental illness can distort someone’s perspective until it feels as though there are no other options, even when help exists. None of this erases the profound effect a suicide or suicide attempt can have on loved ones. It means we can acknowledge that impact without turning a person’s most painful moment into a judgement of their character. A Memory That Stays With Me I remember being on a train to suicide-prevention training for work. The train stopped mid-journey, and a crew member announced that someone had died by suicide, delaying our journey. A wave of sadness hit me. Then a woman on the train loudly called the person selfish and complained about being late. I felt frustrated and saddened. Someone had been in so much pain that they had lost their life. Their suffering mattered far more than anyone’s inconvenience. That moment showed me how misunderstood suicide can be and how urgently we need compassion instead of judgement. It was also deeply triggering because I have come close to losing one of the most important people in my life to suicide more than once. How It Felt for Me Knowing that I could have lost someone I love was overwhelming. I’m incredibly grateful that my loved one survived, but the experience brought grief, fear, sadness, numbness, and ongoing waves of anxiety about it happening again. Supporting someone through this is difficult. It requires patience, compassion, and gentleness towards both your loved one and yourself. Sometimes it can be hard to stay strong when someone you love is in so much pain. It can take a great deal out of you, yet there is often guilt in even admitting that. The experience changed me, and I don’t think I’ll ever be quite the same. It still affects me deeply. These feelings don’t always surface immediately; sometimes, as they did for me, they appear months or even years later. All I wanted at the time was a hug and someone to tell me, “It’s going to be okay.” I still sometimes wonder, “Will it be?” Supporting a Loved One After my family member’s suicide attempt, I focused on supporting them in ways that may also help others: Communicating with medical staff, where appropriate, to understand their care. Visiting and calling to show my presence and concern. Offering small gestures—flowers, a card, a teddy bear, or something else I knew they would appreciate. Listening without judgement and giving them space to process. Reminding them that I loved them and was there for them. Love and presence matter, but they cannot replace professional care. Family members should not have to carry the responsibility alone, and they deserve support too. My Own Experience of Suicidal Thoughts Something I’m not ashamed to admit is that I’ve also experienced moments when life felt unbearably heavy and I had suicidal thoughts. It isn’t a weakness, and it doesn’t define me. I have never acted on those thoughts, but I have reached out for help, including calling suicide helplines when I felt completely overwhelmed. I’m grateful that I did, because sometimes hearing a kind voice can make all the difference. What I experienced would be described as passive suicidal thoughts: thoughts of not wanting to live without any intent or plan. Looking back, I can see that on the same days I felt that way inside, I probably looked fine to everyone else. That’s why it’s so important to be kind—you never know what silent battles someone may be fighting. When Loss Becomes Hope I previously worked for a mental health charity, and one of the most memorable people I met through my fundraising role was a father who had lost his daughter and her partner to suicide. Together, the family raised an incredible amount of money and awareness and supported the charity in other ways. But that isn’t what stayed with me most. What touched me was how, in their grief, they chose to honour her memory by doing something that could help others. They transformed some of their pain into purpose. If you ever find yourself in this position, however, please remember that everyone processes grief differently. For some people, taking action or creating something meaningful can be healing. For others, rest, self-care, or quieter forms of processing are just as valid. There is no right or wrong way to grieve. Moving Forward I hope that, as a society, we can create sensitive and open conversations about suicide. It is not shameful. It deserves understanding, attention, and care. Someone experiencing suicidal thoughts needs compassion and appropriate support, not condemnation. The people who love them also need somewhere safe to place their fear, grief, and exhaustion. If you need support: Immediate danger: Call 999 or go to A&E. Urgent mental-health support in England: Call NHS 111 and select mental health option 2. Samaritans: Call 116 123 free, 24 hours a day. PAPYRUS HopeLine 24/7: Call 0300 102 2470 or text HOPE to 88247. The service supports young people under 35 and people concerned about them. Suicide is not a moral failing. Behind it is a person in pain, and around that person are others who may be carrying more than anyone can see. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67defcdeab25030784298178/2fc7e0e7-2a89-449f-b7e6-e9ec5e100997/IMG_5755-2.jpeg Blog - Breaking the Stigma: Suicide Awareness Month You don’t always know the pain that people carry, please remember to always try to be kind. https://www.growwithrosario.com/blog/building-a-life-anywhere monthly 0.5 2026-08-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67defcdeab25030784298178/29af301d-7d55-4ac8-bdff-3956850aa041/-3.jpg Blog - Finding Peace and Perspective When Home Isn’t Perfect - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.growwithrosario.com/blog/you-dont-have-to-be-perfect-to-love-yourself-you-are-enough monthly 0.5 2026-08-25 https://www.growwithrosario.com/blog/what-no-one-tells-you-about-growing-up-with-a-mentally-ill-parent monthly 0.5 2026-08-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67defcdeab25030784298178/40112dbe-c9d5-483b-94ec-9d493d160d8a/-10.jpg Blog - What No One Tells You About Growing Up With a Mentally Ill Parent - Make it stand out Growing up with a parent who has a severe mental illness can be incredibly challenging. What often saddens me, though, is that much of the content and many of the perspectives I see about this experience focus only on the negatives, or centre on cutting the parent out entirely and the damage it has caused. I can empathise with those experiences, and I feel genuine compassion for people whose lives have been shaped in that way. But that hasn’t been my full experience. While growing up with an unwell parent has been difficult and has impacted me in real and lasting ways, I also want to share a more balanced perspective, one that doesn’t deny the hardship but allows room for complexity, meaning, and even growth. For me, this experience has shaped who I am in positive ways as well. It has made me more sensitive and empathetic, more inclined to understand others, to give people chances, and to see the beauty and humanity in all kinds of people. Despite the challenges and heartbreak that can come with it, I also have a deeply meaningful and beautiful relationship with my parent. The Realities People Don’t Always See I don’t want to brush over the challenges, because they are very real and very present. One of the hardest parts for me has always been the unpredictability. Life was, and still is, uncertain. There can be a new crisis at any moment, and you never quite know what to expect. There is also the constant awareness that this illness can be life-threatening. Growing up in that environment can leave you feeling unsteady. It can make it harder to navigate the world, create an ongoing sense of pressure, and affect how safe or secure life feels. I think this is very difficult for others to fully understand unless they’ve experienced mental illness themselves or lived closely alongside someone who has. Recently, someone said to me, “Well, it’s been going on a long time, so this isn’t really anything new for you.” But that misunderstands the reality. This isn’t something that happens once and then settles. It’s ongoing stress over a long period of time. Making Meaning Without Minimising Pain That said, I believe that experiences, even painful ones, can shape us in meaningful ways. The relationships we have with our parents are among the most formative in our lives, and I’ve reached a place of acceptance around the reality of who mine are. When challenges arise, I’ve realised they have helped me learn a lot about life and grow. Growing up in an unstable environment is undeniably hard. But I can also see how it has made me try to be less judgemental of others who are struggling, who find life unpredictable, or who are carrying unseen burdens. Even when I don’t immediately understand someone’s behaviour, I tend to reflect and ask why. I find uncertainty particularly difficult because of my upbringing. But in a strange way, that has become a gift. It means I’ve had to learn how to create stability for myself by showing up for myself, keeping promises to myself, building habits, and prioritising self-care. That has taught me responsibility, self-trust, and resilience in ways I might not have learned otherwise. A Relationship That Is Different and Still Beautiful My relationship with my parent is genuinely a beautiful one, and I wouldn’t want anyone to think it’s any less meaningful than another parent–child relationship. It is different and, in some ways, it’s harder, though I know everyone has their own challenges and comparisons don’t really help. Our relationship is filled with care and concern, but that isn’t a negative thing to me. I’m grateful that I have someone to care about. Perhaps if my parent hadn’t been so ill, we wouldn’t be as close as we are now. I’m glad that I get to be there for them. We also laugh. We joke. There is a lot of love between us, even if that love isn’t always expressed in the way a parent might traditionally show it. When I can’t see them, I send cards, and they have over twenty of them displayed on their wall. Knowing that they bring them comfort makes me feel deeply loved in return. Challenging the Idea of “Less Than” Something I really struggle with is the idea, often reinforced by society, that someone with severe mental illness is somehow less than, or simply someone to be pitied. Empathy is essential, of course, but pity strips people of their dignity. People with mental illness are not less human, less valuable, or less worthy. My parent is one of the kindest people I know. They are always thinking of others. When they were in hospital and there was a smoothie-making activity, they didn’t make one for themselves; they made smoothies for the entire medical team. That’s who they are. I’m not saying every person with mental illness is the same, but there is often a deep sensitivity there, alongside the illness, not erased by it. The illness is part of their experience, but it is not the sum of who they are. There is also a strong creative side to my parent. They are highly artistic and expressive, not only through creative activities but in the way they communicate and see the world differently. I am in awe of them. While they haven’t been able to have a conventional career or live the kind of life many people expect, and, in many ways, have been robbed of those opportunities, they are still an incredibly talented, special, and meaningful person. Their life has value. Their humanity has value. They are not less than anyone else. What This Experience Gave Me This upbringing has shaped the way I see other people. It’s made me want to look for the good in others. I sometimes think that if my parent hadn’t been ill, I might have been more self-absorbed, more protected, or less aware of other people’s pain. Instead, I feel a strong pull to understand those who are suffering. I don’t instinctively judge someone if they’re homeless, struggling with addiction, living with mental illness, or carrying visible struggles. I’m curious about their story rather than dismissive of it. That commitment to empathy feels like a real gift, one I’m deeply grateful for and wouldn’t want to lose. Seeing Humanity Up Close I’m also aware that this life has allowed me to see a side of the world that not everyone gets to see. I’ve spent a lot of time in mental health wards, not only visiting my parent but learning how to communicate with medical staff. That’s a skill I wouldn’t have developed otherwise. I’ve also interacted with other patients, and that experience has reinforced my belief in human goodness. Mental health wards are often imagined as frightening places, but in my experience, they haven’t been. Strangely enough, they’re some of the places where I’ve felt happiest. They can be deeply supportive environments. Nurses genuinely care. Patients often care for one another. I’ve seen people brushing each other’s hair. I’ve had patients come up to me, hug me, and interact with me in the most gentle, human ways. Those moments have stayed with me. They’ve shown me that even in the midst of suffering, people can offer extraordinary care to one another. That truth exists alongside the difficulty, not instead of it. Growing Up With a Parent Who Has a Severe Mental Illness Growing up with a parent who has a severe mental illness can be incredibly challenging. What often saddens me, though, is that much of the content and many of the perspectives I see about this experience focus only on the negatives, or centre on cutting the parent out entirely and the damage it has caused. I can empathise with those experiences, and I feel genuine compassion for people whose lives have been shaped in that way. But that hasn’t been my full experience. While growing up with an unwell parent has been difficult and has impacted me in real and lasting ways, I also want to share a more balanced perspective, one that doesn’t deny the hardship but allows room for complexity, meaning, and even growth. For me, this experience has shaped who I am in positive ways as well. It has made me more sensitive and empathetic, more inclined to understand others, to give people chances, and to see the beauty and humanity in all kinds of people. Despite the challenges and heartbreak that can come with it, I also have a deeply meaningful and beautiful relationship with my parent. The Realities People Don’t Always See I don’t want to brush over the challenges, because they are very real and very present. One of the hardest parts for me has always been the unpredictability. Life was, and still is, uncertain. There can be a new crisis at any moment, and you never quite know what to expect. There is also the constant awareness that this illness can be life-threatening. Growing up in that environment can leave you feeling unsteady. It can make it harder to navigate the world, create an ongoing sense of pressure, and affect how safe or secure life feels. I think this is very difficult for others to fully understand unless they’ve experienced mental illness themselves or lived closely alongside someone who has. Recently, someone said to me, “Well, it’s been going on a long time, so this isn’t really anything new for you.” But that misunderstands the reality. This isn’t something that happens once and then settles. It’s ongoing stress over a long period of time. Making Meaning Without Minimising Pain That said, I believe that experiences, even painful ones, can shape us in meaningful ways. The relationships we have with our parents are among the most formative in our lives, and I’ve reached a place of acceptance around the reality of who mine are. When challenges arise, I’ve realised they have helped me learn a lot about life and grow. Growing up in an unstable environment is undeniably hard. But I can also see how it has made me try to be less judgemental of others who are struggling, who find life unpredictable, or who are carrying unseen burdens. Even when I don’t immediately understand someone’s behaviour, I tend to reflect and ask why. I find uncertainty particularly difficult because of my upbringing. But in a strange way, that has become a gift. It means I’ve had to learn how to create stability for myself by showing up for myself, keeping promises to myself, building habits, and prioritising self-care. That has taught me responsibility, self-trust, and resilience in ways I might not have learned otherwise. A Relationship That Is Different and Still Beautiful My relationship with my parent is genuinely a beautiful one, and I wouldn’t want anyone to think it’s any less meaningful than another parent–child relationship. It is different and, in some ways, it’s harder, though I know everyone has their own challenges and comparisons don’t really help. Our relationship is filled with care and concern, but that isn’t a negative thing to me. I’m grateful that I have someone to care about. Perhaps if my parent hadn’t been so ill, we wouldn’t be as close as we are now. I’m glad that I get to be there for them. We also laugh. We joke. There is a lot of love between us, even if that love isn’t always expressed in the way a parent might traditionally show it. When I can’t see them, I send cards, and they have over twenty of them displayed on their wall. Knowing that they bring them comfort makes me feel deeply loved in return. Challenging the Idea of “Less Than” Something I really struggle with is the idea, often reinforced by society, that someone with severe mental illness is somehow less than, or simply someone to be pitied. Empathy is essential, of course, but pity strips people of their dignity. People with mental illness are not less human, less valuable, or less worthy. My parent is one of the kindest people I know. They are always thinking of others. When they were in hospital and there was a smoothie-making activity, they didn’t make one for themselves; they made smoothies for the entire medical team. That’s who they are. I’m not saying every person with mental illness is the same, but there is often a deep sensitivity there, alongside the illness, not erased by it. The illness is part of their experience, but it is not the sum of who they are. There is also a strong creative side to my parent. They are highly artistic and expressive, not only through creative activities but in the way they communicate and see the world differently. I am in awe of them. While they haven’t been able to have a conventional career or live the kind of life many people expect and, in many ways, have been robbed of those opportunities, they are still an incredibly talented, special, and meaningful person. Their life has value. Their humanity has value. They are not less than anyone else. What This Experience Gave Me This upbringing has shaped the way I see other people. It’s made me want to look for the good in others. I sometimes think that if my parent hadn’t been ill, I might have been more self-absorbed, more protected, or less aware of other people’s pain. Instead, I feel a strong pull to understand those who are suffering. I don’t instinctively judge someone if they’re homeless, struggling with addiction, living with mental illness, or carrying visible struggles. I’m curious about their story rather than dismissive of it. That commitment to empathy feels like a real gift, one I’m deeply grateful for and wouldn’t want to lose. Seeing Humanity Up Close I’m also aware that this life has allowed me to see a side of the world that not everyone gets to see. I’ve spent a lot of time in mental health wards, not only visiting my parent but learning how to communicate with medical staff. That’s a skill I wouldn’t have developed otherwise. I’ve also interacted with other patients, and that experience has reinforced my belief in human goodness. Mental health wards are often imagined as frightening places, but in my experience, they haven’t been. Strangely enough, they’re some of the places where I’ve felt happiest. They can be deeply supportive environments. Nurses genuinely care. Patients often care for one another. I’ve seen people brushing each other’s hair. I’ve had patients come up to me, hug me, and interact with me in the most gentle, human ways. Those moments have stayed with me. They’ve shown me that even in the midst of suffering, people can offer extraordinary care to one another. That truth exists alongside the difficulty, not instead of it. https://www.growwithrosario.com/blog/when-kindness-comes-at-the-cost-of-yourself monthly 0.5 2026-08-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67defcdeab25030784298178/4e67dfb1-02af-4014-9e24-30713a900e60/%E0%AD%AD%E0%A7%8E+%E0%A3%AA+%D7%85+%E2%99%A1.jpg Blog - When Kindness Comes at the Cost of Yourself - Make it stand out Kindness is a beautiful quality. The world needs more empathy, compassion and people who genuinely care about one another. But what happens when your kindness begins to come at a cost to yourself? This is something I’ve had to reflect on in my own life. Sometimes, our desire to help stops being purely about expressing love and becomes a way of trying to earn it. We might seek approval, acceptance or reassurance that we’re a good person. We might believe we have to be helpful, undemanding or self-sacrificing to deserve love. For some people, this pattern begins in childhood. Perhaps you were praised for being mature, easy-going or for never causing problems. If you grew up around conflict, illness or unpredictability, becoming the peacemaker or the reliable one may have felt like the safest role to play. Eventually, that role can become part of your identity. You become “the one who always helps.” Because people appreciate that version of you, it can feel frightening to change. From my own experience, this was me and, to some extent, it still is. I was carrying too much of other people’s pain while paying too little attention to my own needs. Eventually, it contributed to burnout and depression. I don’t want to lose the caring part of myself. I’ll probably always be empathetic and want the best for other people. But I’ve had to learn that I deserve the same compassion I give so freely to everyone else. One of the hardest parts has been letting go of guilt. I felt guilty when other people were suffering. Guilty when I couldn’t fix everything. Guilty whenever I chose myself. But guilt isn’t always proof that you’re doing something wrong. Sometimes, it simply means you’re doing something differently. If you’ve spent years putting everyone else first, setting a boundary will probably feel uncomfortable. That doesn’t automatically mean the boundary is unkind. People may need time to adjust to the new version of you. Healthy relationships can adapt. But if someone consistently becomes angry or dismissive whenever you express a need, it may be worth considering whether they benefited from you having none. The next time you’re about to do something for someone, pause and ask yourself: Am I doing this because I genuinely want to? Or am I afraid of disappointing them? Am I expressing love or trying to earn it? Kindness should not require you to abandon yourself. Caring for yourself doesn’t mean caring less about other people. It means recognising that your needs matter too. You are the person you’ll spend your entire life with. So be kind. Be generous. Show up for the people you love. But do it from love, not for love. https://www.growwithrosario.com/blog/you-are-allowed-to-contain-both-light-and-dark monthly 0.5 2026-08-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67defcdeab25030784298178/43222311-0928-4095-bac1-ae907ce4fa4d/-31.jpg Blog - You Are allowed to Contain Both Light and Dark - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.growwithrosario.com/blog/nbsp-nbspbeauty-beyond-the-mirror monthly 0.5 2026-08-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67defcdeab25030784298178/addd59dd-9de0-4f76-9520-5c94104bb858/-22.jpg Blog -    Beauty Beyond the Mirror - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.growwithrosario.com/contact daily 0.75 2026-01-26 https://www.growwithrosario.com/home daily 1.0 2026-08-05 https://www.growwithrosario.com/toolsandcourses daily 0.75 2026-08-05 https://www.growwithrosario.com/podcastandyoutube daily 0.75 2026-07-25 https://www.growwithrosario.com/faqs daily 0.75 2026-02-09 https://www.growwithrosario.com/about-1 daily 0.75 2026-08-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67defcdeab25030784298178/f03a297a-99a9-48b4-83d4-be157ab04374/IMG_3514.jpeg https://www.growwithrosario.com/coaching daily 0.75 2026-07-09 https://www.growwithrosario.com/journal daily 0.75 2026-08-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67defcdeab25030784298178/1e9d2adc-341e-4a2f-ba42-152e602a8580/B76BE81A-B0E8-4066-AAE4-70B311A933D7.JPG https://www.growwithrosario.com/coursesandtools daily 0.75 2026-03-25 https://www.growwithrosario.com/coursesandtools/guides monthly 0.5 2026-03-15 https://www.growwithrosario.com/coursesandtools/p/burnout-recovery-habits monthly 0.5 2026-07-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67defcdeab25030784298178/c9caad34-1ac7-44d1-9739-1d91e83833bb/IMG_7929.jpeg Courses & Tools - Habits for Coming Back to Yourself: A guide to recovering from burnout - IMG_7929.jpeg