Cultivating Safety: A Poetic Reflection on Self-Trust and Emotional Grounding
At the heart of healing—whether from anxiety, trauma, perfectionism, or burnout—is the need for safety. Not just physical safety, but emotional, spiritual, and nervous system-level safety. It’s something many of my clients and I return to again and again: How can I feel safe being who I am—imperfect, evolving, human?
As a therapist, and as someone on my own healing path, I’ve come to see that cultivating safety is a commitment—a steady, sometimes quiet, choice to slow down, soften, and listen inwardly.
I recently wrote a poem that emerged from this exploration. It’s not perfectly polished, but it reflects a deeper truth I’m learning to live into. I’m sharing it here as an offering, and an invitation.
She asked me
to commit to one thing
this year
i am a commitment to cultivating safety
basic math
step one = safety
and i’ve stepped on my toes
for plenty of steps
pushing past even myself
(oh the butterfly that could’ve been)
a safe body, offers traction
a steady stream of learning,
routes to walk into my dreams
who I am, my values
(is your inner listening in fragments too?)
oh to cultivate safety
as i fold into my singularity, unique to me
it is to trust that i am still sane
even if i don’t please an other
safety, in the spirit world
if it really is a spirit world
and not the hauntings of unspoken tension
built over time
safety in my intuition
a mystery that could really
be what
was awe stirring
and awful
echoing from the past
we are complex geometry:
we are not trains
northbound
fertilize the soil of my essence
mulch, nourish, plant, protect, play.
all in this arena of safety
for me,
for you
for you.
I wish you safety in the listening
Reflection
What does cultivating safety mean to you?
For some, it’s learning to say no without guilt. For others, it’s building a relationship with their body that isn’t based on control. It might be finding space in your day to rest without proving, or listening to that quiet voice inside that says “this matters.”
In my work with clients, we often explore emotional safety as the foundation for self-compassion, boundary setting, and deeper relationships. Whether through somatic practices, breathwork, or compassionate self-reflection, the goal isn’t perfection—it’s presence.
Closing Invitation
If this poem speaks to something you’ve been longing for—more safety, softness, or self-connection—I’d love to hear what it brings up. And if you're looking for a space to explore this more deeply, you're welcome to connect with me for a free consultation. Therapy can be a place where safety becomes not just a hope, but a lived experience.
Connect here to begin your journey
