Let’s talk codependency — and drop the therapist-speak for a sec. If you’ve ever lost yourself taking care of a friend 🫂, bent over backwards to avoid an argument 🕺, or thrown yourself into "fixing" someone who didn't ask for it 🛠️… welcome to the club. Population: basically everyone, at some point 😅. Here’s something wild — codependency isn’t just one thing. It shows up in four flavors (sadly, still no actual ice cream 🍦): 1. The Caretaker: You only feel valuable when you’re fixing everyone’s messes? Sounds familiar? 🙋‍♂️ 2. The People-Pleaser: You’d rather eat a lemon 🍋 (rind and all) than let someone down. 3. The Rescuer: The “I’ll save the day!!” type 🦸, even when no one’s asking for a hero. 4. The Controller/Enabler: Low-key running the show so people stay reliant on you 🎛️ (and maybe letting some red flags slide 🚩). Real talk: we all do at least one of these. No shame. Sometimes it’s love, sometimes fear, and sometimes it’s just… autopilot 🤷. The trick is noticing. Because nobody’s handing out trophies for ignoring your own needs 🏆🙅. Ever catch yourself in one of these patterns? What helped you notice, or change it up? Drop your stories below, or slide into my DMs — messy honesty encouraged 📝💬. Progress is progress, friends. Even the tiniest step counts. 💡✨🧩

Hey everyone—Belle here. Welcome to Progress is Progress. If you found your way here, you’re probably looking for something real. Well, you’re in the right place. I’m a former meth addict turned recovery counselor, coach, writer, and a ridiculously stubborn hope-holder for anyone who’s ever felt stuck, ashamed, or just “not enough.” I’ve been on both sides of this mess—lived it, learned from it, and still screw things up sometimes. That won’t scare me off, and it shouldn’t scare you either. This place isn’t just for people in recovery. It’s for anyone who’s ever been affected by addiction, for the helpers and the families, the people who love someone in it, the professionals, the ones still in the thick of it, the “gray area” folks, and everyone who thinks recovery should be bigger than just “don’t use.”Here, messy progress counts. Every. Damn. Step. Here’s my question for you: What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word “progress?” It doesn’t have to be deep—maybe it’s just making your bed or sending that one hard text. Or maybe it’s surviving something bigger. Drop your answers below, or just say hi and tell us who you are. Don’t overthink it. This community will be exactly what we make it together. Glad you’re here, Belle

Here’s your no-risk, totally-free invite:I’m offering FREE recovery coaching sessions right now—no catch, no commitment, just real talk, real support, and a chance to see what this whole “peer support” thing can actually do for YOUR recovery journey. 🌱 Not therapy. Not counseling. No judgment. Just honest help from someone who actually gets it (because I’ve been there and I’m walking it, too). Whether you’re curious, struggling, or just sick of going it alone—come see what’s different. 🚨 Tap for instant support🧭 Meetings & community (not isolation)📷 Journals, real-life wins, messy progress🏅 Celebrate every step, not just the “perfect” ones ✨ Book your FREE recovery coaching session with me here:👉 https://cleancircle.app/Onboarding?coach=692b4d00df9b7e956fc34d0e&free=true What do you have to lose? Ask me ANYTHING about coaching, CleanCircle, or just surviving the hard days. I love questions. I love realness. Progress—not perfection—is the whole point. Your story is worth it. Ready?— Belle Morey 🫂 (Read the blog, if you want more: progressisprogress.substack.com)

12/27/25 Let’s get one thing straight: nobody handed you an instruction manual for how to be you. Not your parents, not your old boss, not even those well-meaning friends who want you to “fit in.” The truth? Most people aren’t even qualified to write that manual for themselves, let alone for you. You don’t need their permission slip. In fact, waiting for one is the quickest way to waste your own damn time. The world is loud with opinions. People will try to edit you, soften your edges, make you more “palatable” or “easier to swallow.” The second you start apologizing for who you are, you hand them the pen and let them rewrite your story. Why volunteer for that? Showing up authentically means you walk in, take up the space you’re meant to take up, and say, "This is me. Raw, real, and sometimes messy." It’s the world’s job to deal with that—not yours. Yeah, some people won’t like your authenticity. They’re used to easy, unthreatening boxes. You don’t have to fit inside one of them just because it makes other people comfortable. “Too loud.” “Too much.” “Too different.” If you’ve ever been called these things, good. You’re already doing something right. You don’t need to shrink or hide. You don’t have to ask permission to be honest with yourself. Cut the people-pleasing at the root. It’s not up to anyone else to “approve” your life. So walk in. Say what needs to be said. Show up as full-strength you, every damn day. The ones who get it won’t need it explained, and the ones who don’t were never on your team anyway. Progress is showing up — on your terms, in your own skin — and flipping the bird to anyone who thinks you should dim your light. Permission? That was never part of the deal.