It’s strange how life works sometimes.
You spend so much time trying to prove something — to others, to yourself. You try to show up in rooms the “right” way, speak the “right” way, blend in just enough to avoid standing out, but still shine enough to be seen. Exhausting, isn’t it?
But then, life circles back.
A full-circle moment arrives.
And suddenly, you’re faced with the version of you that you used to hide — and you realize that’s the version that was never the problem.
For years, we’re taught to tone things down — maybe your voice was “too loud,” your ideas “too different,” your pace “too slow.” So you adapt. You water yourself down to be more likable, more agreeable, more acceptable. You tuck away parts of yourself because you were told directly or indirectly that they were “too much” or “not enough.”
But then, life brings you back to those same traits. Maybe someone appreciates the way your mind works. Maybe your quiet nature turns out to be your strength. Maybe your slower pace is what helps you do things thoroughly, not hastily. And you realize, wait — that part of me I tried to fix wasn’t broken at all.
It’s not about glorifying flaws. It’s about understanding that your natural way of being—your instincts, your personality, your rhythm — wasn’t the problem. The problem was the pressure to constantly adjust just to belong.
And once you recognize that, it becomes easier to live from a place of self-trust instead of self-doubt.
This month, I’ve been thinking about how easy it is to get caught in the noise. The constant comparison, the pressure to perform, the need to keep up.
And for what? To earn approval that rarely feels enough?
The truth is, it’s refreshing to just be yourself. Not the filtered version. Not the one curated for acceptance. The real one. The one who’s awkward sometimes, who doesn’t always know the next step, who’s figuring it out at their own pace.
You don’t have to fight so hard to fit into chaos. You don’t have to prove your worth by how well you perform under pressure. You don’t have to join the race if the prize doesn’t even feel like yours.
Sometimes, the best thing you can do is step back — not to give up, but to return to yourself. The version of you before the striving. Before the burnout. Before the need to be “on” all the time.
Because here’s what I know over the years, that what’s meant for you doesn’t need a performance. It finds you when you’re real, even when you’re unsure. Especially when you’re real.
So if this month is asking anything of you, let it be this:
“Relax into who you are. Let go of what doesn’t feel right. Stop squeezing yourself into spaces that require you to shrink”.
Life will circle back. And when it does, let it find you being you — not exhausted, not overworked, not lost in the noise. Just showing up as you are and not overthinking or pretending.
You don’t need to have it all figured out to be okay. Most times, the real progress is just learning to be comfortable in your own skin again.
That’s not letting go in some dramatic way — It’s just choosing not to chase what doesn’t feel right anymore.
Yhem Speaks 
Leave a comment