Self respect
Shrinking isn’t kindness. It’s conditioning.
And once you see it, you can’t unsee it.
I remember a time, it felt like I was constantly dimming my own light. I genuinely thought that being 'kind' meant always agreeing, always compromising my own 'needs' and 'voice' to maintain peace. The truth is, I was just 'shrinking'. It's a subtle, almost invisible form of conditioning that teaches you 'peace' matters more than your 'truth'. Slowly, you learn to 'soften your presence', to the point where you feel like you've lost your 'edges' completely. It's a feeling many of us can relate to, a quiet erosion of self. I often found myself wondering, 'how to respect myself' when I felt so easily 'overlooked' by others, and even by myself. It was a huge wake-up call to realize that my constant 'editing myself' wasn't protecting me or making me lovable; it was making me invisible. This isn't about becoming confrontational or being 'louder' just for the sake of it, but about truly embodying your authentic self, with all your unique qualities and opinions. For anyone asking 'how to respect myself' and reclaim that feeling of the 'good old days' when you felt more unburdened and true to yourself, I've learned it starts with recognizing those moments when you're shrinking. Pay close attention to when you hold back your genuine thoughts or feelings for fear of making others uncomfortable. Start small: voice a preference, set a boundary, or simply acknowledge your own feelings without immediate apology. It's about slowly reclaiming your 'presence' and understanding that your 'truth' is inherently valuable and deserves to be expressed. It means being brave enough to show all your 'edges' and trusting that the right people will appreciate them. Stop editing yourself, and just *be*.
