This past Christmas, my children bought me a beautiful tote bag. I have loved it for almost 2 years, and when I finally got it, I was reluctant to put anything inside.  

It doesn't take long to muddy up the inside while still presenting polished on the outside. I lived in that space for many years with anxiety and fear. Pretending that to be something that I wasn't while carrying around what felt like the world's burdens.

Have you ever felt that way? Like a stunning handbag? The kind that looks put together, classy, and complete.

But if you opened it up... it would expose a much different story.

Old things weigh it down, carrying everything, but what you really need; peace.

The truth is, a lot of us walk around like that.

We present well. We smile. We post. We say, "I'm fine." But inside? We're carrying the heavy stuff no one sees:

• Fear that paralyzes our progress
• Overwhelm from trying to do it all
• Grief that hasn't had space to breathe
• Rejection that still stings
• Hurt we'...