it came from believing that the answer to my happiness was somewhere “out there.” That if I just found the right system, the right diet, the right meditation practice, the right life coach, I’d finally feel worthy, loved, peaceful, and happy.

You know the ones … your art teacher telling you what “real” art looks like, your boss’s voice dictating how you should handle every situation, your mother’s opinions about literally everything. It’s like having a bunch of uninvited houseguests who never leave and keep rearranging your mental furniture.