Symptoms, Not Sins: The Real Reason We Numb
We tend to think our habits are the problem.
The sugar, the scrolling, the extra glass of wine, the late-night shows that turn into early-morning regrets.
But the truth is, those distractions aren’t the problem — they’re the signal.
Our soothing agents — the things we reach for when we feel restless, lonely, or untethered — are not signs of weakness or failure.
They’re symptoms, not sins.
They’re how the body, mind, and heart whisper, “Something’s out of alignment. You’ve drifted from your light.”
When Distraction Becomes Default
We rarely lose our light in one big, dramatic moment.
It fades slowly, through a thousand small decisions —
the times we say yes when we mean no,
the moments we silence our truth to keep the peace,
the days we put everyone else’s needs above our own.
And then one day, we realize we’re exhausted.
So we reach for something — anything — that feels good right now.
A piece of cake.
A glass of wine.
Another episode.
Another scroll.
It works… for a moment.
But what we’re really craving isn’t sugar, alcohol, or distraction.
We’re craving connection.
To ourselves.
To our light.
To peace.
Awareness Is the Bridge
The turning point isn’t found in control or willpower — it’s found in awareness.
Awareness is the bridge between numbing and nurturing.
When we stop berating ourselves for our habits and instead get curious —
What am I really feeling right now? What am I trying not to feel? —
we return to the place where healing begins.
In that moment of awareness, something softens.
We stop fighting ourselves and start listening.
And when we listen, we remember:
We don’t need to be fixed.
We need to be loved — by ourselves, first.
Reconnecting to Light
When we reconnect to our light — the truth of who we are beneath the noise and the roles —
the need to numb naturally dissolves.
Not because we forced it, but because we no longer need it.
Light and numbing can’t coexist.
When you return to light, your needs shift from escape to expression,
from survival to expansion,
from self-criticism to self-compassion.
And that’s where the real healing begins.
Coming Home
So the next time you find yourself reaching for the scroll, the snack, or the sip,
pause.
Not to judge yourself,
but to gently ask, “What is this trying to show me?”
That’s your light calling you home.
Answer it.
Not with guilt,
but with grace.
Because the moment you stop fighting yourself,
you return to the truth of who you are—
and that’s where you were meant to be all along.
This reflection was inspired by a recent Return to Light Gathering,
where we explored how our distractions and habits are symptoms, not sins.
Together, we remembered that awareness is the bridge between numbing and nurturing—
and that when we stop berating ourselves, we naturally return to the light that has been within us all along.
✨ If this resonates, consider joining a future gathering. Each circle is an opportunity to remember, reconnect, and rise—together.
Awareness isn’t punishment. It’s power. And the moment you turn toward your light, you remember —
you were never lost, only disconnected.
Teresa Rodden Return to Light
About Teresa Rodden
Teresa Rodden is a coach, author, and guide for women in their prime who are ready to stop numbing, start feeling, and live with purpose. Through her signature message, Love Yourself Back to Light, and her newest body of work, Shadow Love, Teresa helps women embrace every part of themselves — even the dark places — as essential to their brilliance.
Her work is about more than “fixing” what’s wrong; it’s about returning to truth, rewriting limiting narratives, and allowing the shadow to teach you how to shine. Whether through her writing, coaching programs, or live workshops, Teresa invites women to explore with curiosity, meet themselves with compassion, and reclaim the power of their own story.
Connect with Teresa on Instagram @i_am_teresarodden or learn more at TeresaRodden.com.
