The Foundation You Need to Start Over

Author

Emily Allen
February 26, 2025

In partnership with

Hey You,

Starting over isn’t for the faint of heart. It’s for the bold, the dreamers, the ones who refuse to settle for a life that no longer fits.

Maybe you’re standing at the edge of something new… excited, terrified, or somewhere in between. Maybe you didn’t choose this change, but here you are, forced to rebuild when you weren’t ready.

Wherever you are, there’s one thing that will steady you through it all: self-love. Not the fluffy kind. The real, unshakable kind.

Because when the world feels uncertain, when the ground beneath you shifts, when everything else is up for debate—who you are and how you treat yourself is your foundation.

And if that foundation is strong, you’ll handle whatever comes next.

— Start Over Kitty

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QUOTE OF THE DAY
❝

“We are what our thoughts have made us; So take care about what you think. Words are secondary. Thoughts live; They travel far.”

— Swami Vivekananda

DEEP DIVE

The Conversations We Have With Ourselves

Imagine this: You’re standing in front of a mirror, staring into the eyes of the version of you who has already made it through this season of life. They know what’s on the other side of this transition. They’ve weathered the uncertainty, pushed through the doubt, and found clarity, confidence, and self-trust.

What would they tell you right now?

Would they remind you that you’ve survived every hard day so far? That reinvention isn’t about becoming someone new, but finally coming home to yourself? That the version of you standing in the mirror isn’t waiting for permission—she’s proof that you already have everything you need inside you?

Maybe they’d tell you that the way you speak to yourself right now will shape what happens next.

Because here’s the truth: The most important conversation you’ll ever have is the one happening in your own mind. It’s the voice that either encourages you forward or convinces you to stay stuck. It’s the words you whisper to yourself in the quiet moments—the ones that determine whether you believe in your own strength or let fear win.

So, ask yourself:

🤔 What if you stopped waiting for someone else to believe in you first?
🤔 What if you replaced self-doubt with self-trust?
🤔 What if, instead of wondering if you’re “ready,” you decided that you already are?

Starting over isn’t just about what happens around you. It’s about what happens within you. The way you see yourself. The way you root for yourself. The way you decide, every single day, that you are worthy of the life you’re building.

So if you’re standing at a crossroads, unsure of what’s next—start here. Start by choosing words that build you up instead of break you down. Speak to yourself like someone worth believing in. Because you are.

QUICK HITS

🔇 Silencing Your Inner Critic
8 ways to quiet the voice holding you back →

🤝 The Trick to Building Deep Connections
One shift that transforms relationships →

❤️ How to Know If Someone is Good for You
Signs to look for →

WEEKLY CHALLENGE

This week, catch yourself in the moments when self-doubt creeps in. When that inner voice tells you you’re not ready, not capable, not enough—pause. Then rewrite the narrative.

Instead of: “I’m not good at this.” → Try: “I’m still learning, and I’m getting better every day.”

Instead of: “What if I fail?” → Try: “What if this works out better than I imagined?”

Instead of: “I don’t know where to start.” → Try: “The first step is enough for today.”

Change starts in the mind first. Speak to yourself with the same kindness and belief you’d offer a friend.

COMMUNITY CORNER

The Starting Over Toolkit™ was designed to be your guide through transitions—the reminder that you are worth the investment. Inside, you’ll find practical tools to help you rebuild confidence, shift your mindset, and create a foundation of real self-love.

👉 Grab your toolkit and make the next chapter your best one yet.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Starting over can be messy—and that’s okay.

You don’t have to have it all figured out today. You just have to be willing to take the next step.

Trust yourself. Believe in yourself. Keep going.

You’re building something beautiful. And it starts with you.

Start Over Kitty & The Permission to Start Over Team

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