The Return to Soul: From Proving to Presence Throughout the memories of my life, there was always a need to prove— To show others who I truly was beneath the masks, To earn love, belonging, and respect through my gifts, my grit, and my growth. There was a push—unrelenting at times—to demonstrate my worth. To be seen. To be understood. To be chosen. I remember seasons where I shined brighter, not because I was more whole, but because I was trying harder to be light in the face of my own internal darkness. I smiled when I was unraveling. I…