A reflective moment emphasizing the importance of rest in the journey of rebuilding at a mindful pace.

Hope is not naïve. It serves a purpose. But hope becomes dangerous when it keeps you exposed to what continues to wound you. When safety has been repeatedly denied, ignored, or undermined, continuing to negotiate does not make you compassionate. It makes you vulnerable.

The body is always calculating cost. How much energy does it take to be here? How much vigilance is required to stay safe? How long before pain appears? What happens afterward? When the cost of proximity consistently outweighs its benefit, the body begins to pull away.

A person sits curled up alone, embodying vulnerability, as the text highlights the critical link between trauma, safety, and healing.