Woman Gets Emotional While Sharing Dad’s Powerful Message After Her Breakup (Exclusive)
"He sat and listened to me as I cried for hours, got me outside and moving, cooked me soup, and held me so I could fall asleep,” Jessica McGann tells PEOPLE
Jessica McGann/Coached by Jess
Jessica McGann and her father Dan McGannAs she faced the prospect of starting over again after a recent breakup, one woman shared some loving advice her father gave her that helped put everything into perspective.
In a TikTok video that has been seen by a million viewers — and counting — Jessica McGann shared a quick yet powerful story about the "challenging" transition regarding the mutual decision between her and her partner to end their relationship of four years. As if breaking up wasn't enough of a change, McGann shared that she had also moved to a new apartment in a new city.
While dealing with the emotional toll it had taken on her, a sound word of advice from her father, Dan McGann, taught her a valuable lesson about starting over.
“You know what else is painful? Being born. You’re going through a rebirth and that’s gonna be painful,” she said in the video as she shared her father's helpful reminder.
“I just thought this view of it was really beautiful. It helped me feel less like I was crumbling or breaking," a tearful McGann added. "I was able to see it more like I’m expanding and I'm growing and changing for the better."
McGann, who works as a TV producer and coach for creatives, tells PEOPLE that she reached out to her dad the morning after "my first night alone in my new apartment."
"I had been up all night in emotional turmoil that was so overwhelming it manifested physically, and by morning I knew I was at a point where I needed help," she says.
"When I reached out, my father was there without hesitation, bringing groceries and essential kitchen items to help me start over," she adds. "He sat and listened to me as I cried for hours, got me outside and moving, cooked me soup, and held me so I could fall asleep."
McGann adds that although they haven't always had the easiest relationship, "his support during that difficult moment was a massive step in our healing."
"I feel very grateful to call him my dad," she adds.
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Many applauded McGann’s vulnerability to express her emotions on a public platform, and she tells PEOPLE that being so open online didn't make her feel nervous at all.
“One thing I’m really passionate about is de-stigmatizing how we view and talk about mental health, and one of the ways I do that Is through sharing my own experiences," she says. "When me and my ex decided to part ways, I knew this transition would be a challenging one and that I wanted to channel this experience into something helpful for others."
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The host of supportive reactions to her video quickly made it go viral and McGann says that “the outpouring of messages, comments, and DMs from thousands has been profoundly comforting.”
As for how she’s feeling these days, McGann says she may not be completely healed from her break-up, but happiness is within reach.
“I've certainly seen better days, but I'm taking it one day at a time. The support from my family and friends has been incredible, and I feel deeply moved by how many people have found solace in my content," she says. "It's a reminder that even in tough times, we're not alone and I’m so over the moon that my content is doing exactly what I had intended it to, helping others through their own healing."
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