The Parts We Hide Are Often Most Desperate for Healing

It was just a two-inch strip of skin. The spot between my socks and leggings—the only part of my leg anyone would see that morning at the gym.

I stood in my bathroom, half-awake, rubbing lotion onto that one little section. Not my whole leg. Not even my whole ankle. Just that two-inch window the world would see.

And as I did it, something hit me.

I was in a season. One of those heavy ones where you wake up and already feel behind. Where your chest stays tight, and your prayers feel quiet. Where you answer “I’m good” out loud, but your soul whispers otherwise.

That morning, I realized just how much of my life looked like that leg—polishing what was visible, ignoring what wasn’t. I was tending to the version of myself I wanted others to see. The part I knew would be exposed. The rest? Dry. Cracked. Untouched. Uncared for.

And the truth? It wasn’t about the lotion. It was about the lie.

Because I can make the outside look fine. I can smile, lead, show up, check the boxes. But if I’m not willing to do the deeper work—beneath the leggings, beneath the surface—then what am I really offering the people I love? The teams I lead? The little girls watching me every day?

There’s a version of self-care that looks cute. The kind that smells like lavender and fits into a 15-minute window between tasks. But the real kind? It’s gritty. It’s honest. It’s letting yourself cry when no one’s watching and asking for help even when it feels weak. It’s facing the parts of yourself that don’t show up in Instagram stories.

I’ve learned this: the parts we hide are often the parts most desperate for healing.

So now, I ask myself—am I just moisturizing the visible spot? Or am I willing to pause and take care of what’s hidden too?

Because that dry patch of skin reminded me, I don’t want to live a life that just looks good. I want to live one that is good. One that’s whole, even when no one sees.

There’s a verse that gets straight to the heart of this: “People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” – 1 Samuel 16:7 (NIV).

God’s not fooled by polished moments. He’s not impressed by our highlight reels. He sees the hidden stuff—the weary, the dry, the undone—and He loves us there. Not in spite of it, but right in the middle of it.

And maybe the most sacred kind of self-care is simply letting Him in.

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Articles by Brooke Schnorr

Brooke Schnorr

Brooke Schnorr is a writer, business leader, and mother of three who is passionate about helping women navigate the intersections of faith, family, and leadership. Drawing from her experiences as a small business owner, corporate leader, and devoted mom, Brooke writes with a relatable, honest voice that encourages women to reconnect with their purpose and lead with authenticity.