As we venture deeper into ourselves, we may encounter a challenging barrier within our own thoughts, like a dense layer of sediment that has been hardened by conditioning. When we shed our emotional armor, it can be a painful process. We often feel the impact of the release in our personal lives: the storms of yesterday, the heaviness of the past moments rising to the surface. Opening ourselves up to unlearned beliefs and behaviors can create a feeling of unease and instability, as if we are on the verge of turbulence and disharmony. Real growth is recognizing these moments and treating ourselves gently as the storms pass.