Turning heartache into a portal for rebirth

IN TODAY’S world, where truth often hides behind illusion and love is sometimes confused with control, the wake of heartbreak can feel like being lost in a fog of disillusion.

- ANOLENE THANGAVELU PILLAY

‘We fall for dreams dressed in shared values, hopeful promises, and familiar patterns - believing we've found a reflection of ourselves.

This predictable emotional formula can lead to a paper-deep connection — safe but quietly damages the essence of who you are.

Psychologically, this makes sense.

We are naturally drawn to those who mirror our values and traits (Montoya et al., 2008). But what happens when awareness settles in?

When you discover that the love you committed to was never truly mutual but shaped by family pressure, emotional manipulation or third-party agendas.

These aren't just personal heart-breaks - they're part of a wider pattern. According to the World Health Organization, nearly one in three women globally experience physical or sexual violence, often at the hands of someone they know (WHO, 2021).

But pain doesn't only show up in bruises. Psychological abuse - gaslighting, subtle criticism or breaking someone’ confidence - leaves deeper more complex marks.

Behind these statistics are real people sitting in silence, holding unheard stories. Men, too, carry pain, often buried under stigma.

Families sometimes conceal the truth behind a pretence of denial while disturbingly false rumours often spread faster than the 24-hour news cycle.