The more you limit yourself for others the less they will think of you
When you keep shrinking yourself to make other people comfortable, you unintentionally teach them that your needs, your voice, and your boundaries are optional. People don’t value what you don’t protect because you’ve shown them there’s no cost to overlooking you
At first, it feels like you’re being kind. But eventually, it creates an imbalance. You give more, tolerate more, and expect less and people adjust to that version of you
Respect tends to grow where there are clear edges. When you’re honest about what you want, what you won’t accept, and who you are, people may not always like it, but they understand you. And that understanding is what respect is built on
There’s a difference between being considerate and being self erasing. The moment you stop editing yourself to be more acceptable is usually the moment people start taking you more seriously
