The world has a way of teaching us to harden- to protect ourselves by closing off, pulling back, or carrying unspoken resentment. But wisdom doesn’t require hardness, and discernment doesn’t have to turn into bitterness.

In this episode, I reflect on what it means to stay soft without losing your wisdom- to practice discernment as clarity rather than resentment, and to protect your heart without closing it.

I talk about how unresolved hurt can quietly shape our posture toward life, and how choosing discernment with compassion can help purify the heart so we’re able to walk in love- even when relationships, seasons, and people are imperfect.

In this episode, I share:

• The difference between discernment and resentment
• How wisdom can coexist with tenderness
• Why forgiveness is a practice, not a bypass
• How to guard your heart without hardening it
• My three North Stars for 2026- the values I’ll return to when life feels heavy
• Being “labeled” for taking space from hurtful communities or church should be more acceptable and understood
• Thanking past relationships for leaving

This episode isn’t about fixing yourself or forcing outcomes. It’s about choosing the posture you want to live from- one rooted in clarity, love, and grounded faith.

✨ If you’re entering this year wanting to live wisely without becoming hardened, this episode is for you.

Connect with Host, Ella

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