Blog Journal – An intricate sea shell

The patience behind creating something beautiful.

Hiya my name is Chloe and I have started a little blog journal series called ‘Confessions of a Cave Girl’ where I spill out my thoughts and understandings on my experiences and thoughts hoping it can benefit another.

So Seashells! We often forget how much time and patience it takes for these delicate creations to form. 

So have you ever held a seashell in your hand, fascinated by its beauty? The swirls, ridges, gentle curves. Tiny masterpieces, each one unique. I absolutely love them I collect them obsessively every time I go to the beach. Boxes upon boxes of stones and intricate shells stored in a dusty corner in my tiny apartment. My day dreamy self justifying keeping them for an art project that may be 15 years down the line. I’ll confess a little dream of mine. If I ever have my own land, house or farm I want to build a wall and cement my favourite rocks and stones with the best memories into the wall. Almost like a collage.

Seashells are built by mollusks these tiny creatures who inhabit the big, beautiful ,unpredictable, salty ocean which makes your face speak awful subtitles if you accidentally drink it. These mollusks are so patient. Day by day, layer by layer, they excrete calcium carbonate, which hardens to create their protective home. A Sea Shell. This process isn’t rushed; it takes months or years for a shell to grow and strengthen. And through it all, the mollusk doesn’t hurry or compare itself to others—it needs to be focused on its own steady, intentional, self work.

The sea is a relentless place storms rage, waves crash, currents pull but the mollusk remains steadfast, trusting the process. It doesn’t know what the final shell will look like or how long it will take, yet it perseveres. Over time, a work of art emerges, shaped by patience, persistence, and trust in nature’s natural rhythm. Can you catch the metaphor?

Just like these seashells, our journeys require time, Shaping by storms. Learning from our lessons and placing important boundaries.

For us humans to make a safe home within ourselves and around us, it takes time, especially for those who have suffered childhood traumas and an unhealthy conditioning of the mind from a young age.

Disclosure: The following content may not relate to many but may trigger.

Yourself now, you know you are an adult and the expectations by society is for you to have you life together but If this was your experience in your younger years or maybe something chaotic happens later in life for you. Then you must have grace with yourself xoxo You may not come across many people who will.

If you were young and experiencing harm then you weren’t granted the safety net to grow the way you should’ve grown as a child. You couldn’t be playful in survival mode or in fear. As an adult you may still feel like that younger you, not knowing where to step or how to step but you can try to take wee steps now. Heal slowly, grow slowly, It starts with you.

What is the best version of you? I’d bet that version of you would protect that younger you and remind you how to love yourself again. It takes time to heal, I’ll not cap, about it. It is slow so have Grace for yourself.

For many people when they start reflecting on themselves, making the good changes that are necessary and begin to heal, they start to compare themselves to others. Struggling to see the progress and the boundaries they have placed and compare themselves to people who most likely had the head start, the safety and love and healthy environment to thrive. Those who you feel like they can travel the world with no fear, work a 9-5 without being triggered into an emotional meltdown or sensory overload, they don’t struggle with severe addictions or flashbacks, they have a good education, careers, mortgage.

Many survivors when we start to teach our inner self that it is safe to grow up and start over… we feel that pressure to rush and catch up with others that are not in our position. That awful pressure to create that beautiful shell ASAP for the whole world to see. All whilst experiencing that inner push and pull, the constant fight between”Yes, I’m moving, I’m safe I got me” and “Stagnancy, Survival mode, I don’t trust myself and I don’t trust others.” That sea Shell of yours your working on is not a flashy trophy my dear it is your safe place, your home, your life. Stop rushing it for the sake of others to validate and appreciate it. You need to learn to love the journey.

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I’m not speaking from a textbook or ignorance by the way but empathy. I know what it feels like to think and feel this way and I’ve had many conversations with people who feel this way.

The past few years I’ve been learning to trust in God. For many years I was in survival mode and it’s hard to give God the wheel. Trusting in God and his timing to me, means trusting and leaving things completely into the hands of God. My story, My family, My past, My present, My future, My heart or what is left of it.

The less on my shoulders the better. Remember I said how I know what the fight feels like, to trust in yourself for your own safety and the next minute to be crippled in fear by your own decisions. When I give all my stresses to God I don’t have those anxieties or stresses. He knows the speed I’ll learn in regard to mistakes, he knows the bombs around the corner and if says wait longer hes probably clearing the path. My life, My sea shell will always be my own. It is undoubtedly shaped by many stories and trials but I want my life to be led by the hands of God. I want him to steer the car.

Now I’m not saying I’m perfect, I’m not always the best at trusting him and letting him drive and sometimes I take the wheel with my impulsive decisions and then my life becomes a joyride with those crazy waves. I’m free to make my own decisions on my own, I know, I’m aware. But, what I have noticed is that when I do, my life is never as safe, stable, cared for, as loved as it is when I just give everything to God and let him lead. He is my comfort, recognizing and healing my past, nurtures my present and shapes my future. Only in him and his love have I ever found rest. Matthew 11:28 comes to mind as I’m writing this. God gave me my start in life

Isaiah 40:31 – “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength…”

Personal Growth isn’t instant, the most beautiful transformations often happen slowly. We may not see the results immediately or have had a head start. We may get set back but every small, steady effort we make builds us toward something greater. And just like the mollusk weathering the storm, we’re being shaped by the challenges we face.

This world is constantly running at full speed and It’s too easy to feel like we need to keep up. The deadlines, the expectations, the comparisons—they all push us to rush. Reminder! What if you just slowed down? What if you gave yourselves permission to breathe, to rest, and to trust the process? Tbh You may get some negative comments and judgemental feedback for doing that but I promise you it is so worth it.

I’ve realized it’s okay to not have all the answers right now. Why are we rushing? Why would you want to compare? Life is not a race, and our journeys and stories are all unique and ours. When we force ourselves to sprint through life and its challenges, we can miss quiet lessons and the unseen bridges being built for us to grow. Just because we can’t see the way forward doesn’t mean it isn’t there. Often, it’s in the moments of stillness that clarity shows.

Psalm 46:10 – “Be still, and know that I am God.”

Patience isn’t just about waiting—it’s about what we do while we wait. It’s about nurturing ourselves, growing, and being content with where we are right now. Society has a way of amplifying external voices, and if we’re not careful, those voices can drown out the one that truly matters and drain our passion. Listening to the noise around us can pull us away from the peace and direction within us. It’s essential to protect that quiet space inside, where we can reconnect with what’s truly important.

Just because you don’t see the way doesn’t mean there isn’t one. Every challenge is an opportunity to grow stronger and wiser, but that growth happens best when we allow ourselves to move at the right pace and say no to the rush and manipulation and say no to stagnancy caused by fear.

Exodus 14:14 – “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

Slow down. Deep breath. Remind yourself that you’re exactly where you’re meant to be right now. Be patient with yourself and your journey. And remember, your worth isn’t defined by how fast you move or how much you achieve—sometimes, the greatest achievements come from simply being present and trusting the process, trusting in God and his timing.

So, when life feels overwhelming or progress seems slow, let the seashell remind you: patience creates beauty. Don’t rush. Trust in the process, even when you can’t see the outcome. Be content with the rhythm of your life and have faith that the masterpiece of your life is unfolding, layer by layer, just as it’s meant to.

Signing off

Cave Girl

Jeremiah 29:11 – “For I know the plans I have for you… plans to give you hope and a future.”

Reflections for you below:

– Where do I need more patience in my life?

– When was the last time I gave myself grace?

– What part of my story do I try to hide—but really need to honor?

– In what area of my life am I still learning to trust?

– What would happen if I stopped comparing and embraced my own timing?

– Where do I feel the pressure to be “fixed” instead of simply being present?

– What kind of shell am I shaping today—what layers am I adding?

– Have I made space this week to just be?

– When I stop striving, do I hear God more clearly?

– Is my soul quiet enough to receive peace today?