Day TwentyTwo: What it's really about.
Here’s the hard truth: it’s not about you. And, I don’t say that to diminish what you’re feeling.
Nope, amigo.
I say it to set you free.
People carry so much unseen weight. Fear, insecurity, grief, the pressure to perform.
And, sometimes, that spills out sideways.
In sharp words. In distance. In silence. In stories they’ve written in their heads that have nothing to do with who you really are.
If you’re not paying attention, you’ll start to believe it is about you.
You’ll take it personally. You’ll carry their discomfort like it’s your responsibility to fix. And, before you know it, you’re shrinking. You’re second-guessing. You’re editing yourself to make someone else more comfortable.
That’s how your voice starts to fade. That’s how the work gets watered down.
But what if you paused instead? What if you could see their reaction as information, not identity? What if you could stay rooted in your worth, even when someone else can’t see it clearly?
Taking it personally is human. So is wanting to be understood. But don’t let someone else’s fear or frustration write your story. That’s not your burden.
You can be compassionate without overpromising. You can stay open without losing yourself.
Every time you choose not to internalize someone else’s noise, you’re reclaiming your energy. Your clarity. Your voice. Your very self.
That’s how you keep your work honest. That’s how you stay true to yourself.
So the next time it feels personal, remember: it’s okay to care, just not at the cost of yourself.
Mantra \ Prayer:
This is not my storm.
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Steve Knox | Carmel, CA