Breaking the Invisible Chains

So many of the barriers we face as women are not visible walls but quiet, internalized beliefs woven into us through years of conditioning. They come from the voices of religion telling us to be obedient, from society teaching us to fit into boxes that never truly held our full expression, and from generational patterns passed down like heirlooms we never asked to carry. These invisible chains are often the most powerful, because they live inside us. They are our inner dialogue telling us to stay small, play safe, and never outgrow the roles others assigned to us.

The challenge is that these chains don’t  announce themselves directly. They show up instead as self-doubt, as shame around wanting more, as hesitation to speak up, or as a nagging feeling that we are somehow “too much” or “not enough.” They shape our relationships, our work, our sense of worth, and even the way we treat our own bodies. And because they’re subtle, they can become so familiar that we mistake them for truth.

But what happens when we begin to see them for what they are—conditioning, not truth? Something remarkable awakens. With awareness comes choice. When we notice the pattern of shrinking back, we can ask: Whose voice is this? Who benefits from me staying small? When we feel the weight of guilt or shame pressing us down, we can ask: Is this truly mine to carry, or was it placed on me by someone else’s fear?

Breaking Chains to Break Free

Once we begin breaking free from the chains of other people’s beliefs and the roles they’ve placed on you, it  opens the door to discovering your true values. It invites you to experiment, to “try on new hats,” and see what feels most authentic. One way to do this is by stepping into new communities that spark your curiosity—whether that’s a book club, a Toastmasters group, or a circle of people navigating a similar life stage.

You might also explore movement in ways you’ve never allowed yourself before. Maybe it’s a Goddess Flow class, aerial silks, or even bungee fitness—things that once felt out of reach because you told yourself you “couldn’t” or “shouldn’t.”

One of my favorite parts of leading Goddess flow classes is having women come into the first class, hide themselves in the back corner, stiff, unsure, and curled up into themselves, but then something magical happens as they begin to sway and allow themselves to move with no performative expectation attached to it. And while it usually takes more than one class to truly find their comfort in moving freely, it’s a lot like watching a butterfly first unfurl their wings after emerging from the cocoon. Eventually these beautiful expansive wings spread wide and get ready to take flight. It’s a resplendent sight to behold women unfurling from limitations and expanding into the freedom to embody their truest self. 

Creativity can be another doorway. Sign up for that art class, try your hand at pottery, or pick up a form of expression you’ve always been curious about but never given yourself permission to pursue.

The key is simple: follow your curiosity. It will guide you toward the experiences and connections that bring you closer to the truest version of yourself.

It’s also important to understand that releasing these chains is not about rejecting your past, but about choosing sovereignty in the present. It’s about honoring the women who came before you while refusing to repeat the cycles that kept them silenced. It’s about stepping into your wholeness and realizing that the power you’ve been seeking was never outside of you. It’s been here all along, waiting for you to claim it.

You don’t have to do it all at once. Each moment you choose your voice over silence, your truth over conformity, your expansion over fear, a chain breaks. Each time you pause and witness an old belief before letting it dictate your choices, you carve a new path for yourself and for those who will come after you.

This is the work of freedom. Not a grand escape, but a steady unraveling. A remembering of who you were before the conditioning, before the silence, before the chains. And from that place, you rise—not small, but whole. 

If you’re ready to go deeper into the mindset work of breaking invisible chains, I encourage you to start with my Changing Mindset Mini Course. It gives a step by step guidance to rewiring your inner dialogue to your truths, while releasing inner narratives placed on you before you could chose for yourself. 

Your journey doesn’t end here. This September, join us at the Freedom Era Summit—a 3-day virtual experience created to help women release old patterns and rise into power, authenticity, and trust. More details coming soon!