Girl, Wash Your Face

Have you ever felt like you’re juggling dozens of expectations—yours, your family’s, or society’s—and still coming up short? We’ve all been there: battling guilt, body image struggles, or the worry that we’re not good enough. This introduction invites you to see that you’re not alone, and that change is possible right where you stand.

In today’s noisy world, it’s tempting to numb out or bury pain under self-doubt and overwork. But doing so only entrenches the lies we believe about ourselves. These lies have a surprising amount of power, shaping how we act, parent, love, or strive at work.

Throughout this journey, you’ll meet relatable moments: from feeling overwhelmed as a new mom to wrestling with the aftermath of childhood experiences. Each story aims to remind you that your struggles, while unique, are part of a greater human story. And at any point, you can step off the merry-go-round of shame and into hope.

Much of our pain is rooted in the lies we tell ourselves: that we’re unlovable, untalented, or incapable. Often, these untruths have played in our minds for so long they become like white noise we hardly notice. But spotting them is the first vital step toward growth.

These lies can show up in daily habits, like promising ourselves we’ll chase a dream and then quitting at the first hurdle, or berating ourselves for not matching some impossible social-media ideal. Identifying which lies matter most to you personally is part of the work—like shining a light into a dark attic.

Facing these lies head-on demands courage. It might mean confronting old standards you learned at home, or letting go of someone else’s definition of success. Yet this discomfort is key, because each lie we uproot frees us to make clearer choices about who we want to become.