Defying Gravity: Breaking Generational Cycles to Unlock Possibility
Hi love,
Take a breath with me. Inhale, compassion. Exhale, expectation.
Have you ever felt like the weight of your family’s past was holding you back from becoming who you’re meant to be? That ache in your chest, that quiet longing for something different—it’s the first sign you’re ready to break free.
My journey to this point in my life has been transformative. I never imagined I’d be here, able to share what I have learned. In fact, I didn’t think I was meant for much. Originally, I was a theatre major in college, wanting to try on every character as an escape, to hide myself in a costume. But I was the real role of a lifetime. Wicked was always one of my favorite musicals. I would sing every note to an empty theatre after hours. It spoke to my heart, with certain lyrics always sending goosebumps up my arms and down my neck. With the movie coming out soon, I felt inspired to reflect on how much this story helped open be up and has shaped my perspective.
Being a cycle breaker is like standing at the base of a mountain, staring up at a daunting path no one else in your family has dared to climb. The trail is steep, uneven, and covered in sharp brambles that snag at your feet. It's uncomfortable and certainly not easy. You’ve been handed a backpack, heavy on your shoulders, full of things you didn’t choose to carry—generations of pain, unspoken rules, and outdated limiting beliefs—but you’ve decided to climb anyway, knowing where you are going has to be better and is exactly where you’re meant to be.
"Something has changed within me, something is not the same."
Maybe it started with an ache in your heart, a longing for a life where love truly feels safe, where all voices and needs can be heard, where freedom replaces fear. Or maybe it was a spark, a moment when you realized that change doesn’t have to wait for other's permission.
"I’m through with playing by the rules of someone else’s game."
Some parts of the climb will feel exhilarating, the sun breaking through the trees, giving you glimpses of the view ahead. There are moments of authentic connection, laughter that makes your cheeks hurt, and discovering relationships that energize you, helping you feel more like yourself than ever before.
Other times, it will feel like trudging uphill in the rain, mud beneath your feet trying to hold you in place, weighed down by doubt, frustration, grief, and exhaustion. When family members belittle your boundaries or dismiss your experiences, offering unsolicited opinions of how you should handle things—especially on days when you’re barely hanging on—it’s easy to second-guess yourself. But remember: their opinions don’t define you, and their rules don’t bind you.
"Too long I've been afraid of losing love, I guess I've lost. Well, if that's love, it comes at much too high a cost."
You’ve already shown courage just by deciding to climb this mountain. That choice alone is a powerful act of love—for yourself and your children. Every step you take matters. Every boundary you thoughtfully choose to set, every moment of tenderness you offer yourself or your children, every time you stop and rest so you can keep going—it all matters. Your peace matters. And so do you.
The summit isn’t just for you. It’s for the next generation, and even the ones beyond. It’s for your kids, who will grow up knowing that love can be safe, boundaries can be healthy, and growth is always possible. It’s for you, to stand in the sunlight, unburdened by the things you were never responsible for carrying, breathing deep the air of authenticity.
"Dreams the way we planned 'em. If we work in tandem, there's no fight we cannot win."
Climbing this mountain doesn’t mean you have to go it alone. Along the way, you’ll find others on their own climbs, some ahead of you, some behind. There’s strength in knowing you’re part of a community of people who have chosen this brave, transformative path.
"Everyone deserves the chance to fly."
And when you reach the summit—oh, love, when you reach it—you’ll look back and see how far you’ve come. You’ll see the parts of yourself that you left behind to lighten the load, the courage it took to keep going when the path felt endless, and the way the air feels different at the top: lighter, freer, full of endless possibility.
"I’m through accepting limits, 'cause someone says they’re so."
No one has the right to tell you who you are, what to believe, or what you are capable of. This is your life to live, your story to tell. Being a cycle breaker isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress. It’s about trusting in yourself, learning what it takes to stand up after a fall, and taking another step forward.
"It’s time to trust my instincts, close my eyes, and leap."
You’re defying gravity, love. One step, one choice, one moment at a time. So, what’s your next step? It doesn’t have to be big, but it does have to be yours. Trust yourself. Take that leap. You’re worth it.
Keep shining,
Erin
