Rising from Ashes: Navigating Heartbreak and Life’s Unexpected Fires
Captured by Mitchell Royel and now immersed in the visual for "Side Effects" by Becky Hill & Lewis Thompson, the experience unfolds with a captivating blend of emotion and artistry. Every frame draws you deeper into the story, perfectly complementing the song’s powerful energy and raw vulnerability. It’s a moment where music and visuals collide, creating an unforgettable journey that lingers long after the last note fades.
She thought she had her world figured out—love, work, purpose—all neatly aligned like constellations in her sky. But then the breakup came, sudden and sharp, like a cold wind that unsettles everything it touches. It wasn’t just the end of a relationship; it was the unraveling of the story she’d been telling herself about who she was and where she belonged.
In the days that followed, grief settled in like a quiet storm. She found herself wandering through memories, each one a tender ache. And just when she thought she might find some refuge, the news hit: the headquarters of the job she adored—the place that had been her sanctuary, her creative home—had burned to the ground. The building, with its familiar walls and the energy of dreams in motion, was gone. Reduced to ashes.
It felt like the universe was echoing her heartbreak, amplifying the loss, layering grief upon grief. But in that moment of devastation, something shifted. She realized that both the relationship and the building were symbols—places where she had anchored her identity and safety. And now, with those anchors gone, she was invited to float, to drift, to discover what else was possible beyond the familiar.
Processing a domino effect of loss is never linear. It’s messy, unpredictable, and deeply personal. Sometimes, the pain feels like it will swallow you whole. But grief is also a gateway—a sacred passage to new understanding and growth. She learned to sit with the discomfort, to honor the tears, and to listen to the whispers beneath the noise.
In the ashes of what was lost, she found a strange kind of freedom. The freedom to rewrite her story, to rebuild not just a career or a relationship, but her very sense of self. The fire cleared space for new light to enter, for new dreams to take root.
This is the alchemy of heartbreak and loss: when everything you thought you needed falls away, you’re left with the raw, unfiltered essence of who you are. And from that place, you can rise—stronger, wiser, and more radiant than ever before.
We all know that feeling—the ground shifting beneath our feet when what we thought was solid suddenly crumbles. That domino effect of loss? It’s brutal. One heartbreak spills into another, and suddenly, we’re standing in the ruins of everything we loved, wondering how to even breathe again. But here’s the thing: we’re not alone in this. We’re in this messy, beautiful process together.
When the place that held our dreams burns down—literally or metaphorically—it’s like the universe is asking us to look deeper. To ask, “Who are you when the story you’ve been telling yourself is gone?” Because, darling, that story? It’s not you. It’s a chapter, a role, a scene. And now, we get to write the next act.
We process these domino moments by leaning into the discomfort, by giving ourselves permission to feel every messy emotion without judgment. We cry, we rage, we question, and then, slowly, we begin to remember that our worth isn’t tied to a person, a place, or a job. It’s tied to the essence of who we are—our light, our resilience, our capacity to love ourselves fiercely.
So when the world feels like it’s falling apart, we don’t just survive—we rise. We rise with the fierce knowing that from these ashes, we can build something new, something truer. Our stories aren’t defined by what’s lost but by the courage we show in reclaiming our power.
Together, we hold space for the grief and the growth. Because in this shared journey, we find our strength, our voice, and ultimately, our freedom. And that, my loves, is where the real magic begins.
We’re in this together, navigating the ups and downs of life’s unexpected domino moments. Here are 10 tips to help us process, heal, and rise stronger when everything feels like it’s falling apart:
We Allow Ourselves to Feel — We don’t rush through the pain. We sit with it, honor it, and let it teach us.
We Lean on Our Tribe — We reach out to those who hold space for us, knowing we don’t have to carry the weight alone.
We Practice Radical Self-Compassion — We speak kindly to ourselves, especially when our inner critic gets loud.
We Create Sacred Space — We carve out moments just for us to breathe, reflect, and reconnect with our inner light.
We Embrace the Messiness — We accept that healing isn’t linear and that it’s okay to have good days and bad days.
We Rewrite Our Stories — We remind ourselves that our identity isn’t tied to what’s lost but to the strength we carry forward.
We Celebrate Small Wins — We acknowledge every step forward, no matter how tiny, as a victory.
We Set Boundaries — We protect our energy by saying no to what doesn’t serve our healing and growth.
We Stay Curious — We ask ourselves what this experience is teaching us and how it’s shaping our evolution.
We Choose Hope — We hold onto the belief that from these ashes, new light and new possibilities will emerge.
Together, we move through the pain, holding space for growth and transformation. We rise, we heal, and we become more of who we’re meant to be.
-Mitchell+Ryder