Just wanted to make you proud🙃

Growing up under the pressure of meeting a parent's expectations can be a deeply challenging and emotional experience. Many people, including myself, have felt the intense weight of wanting to make their dad proud but feeling like they fall short. This struggle is often complicated when there are additional factors like family breakups or mental health issues such as borderline personality disorder (BPD) involved. From personal experience, it helps to acknowledge that these feelings of guilt and failure are common but don’t define your worth. Being honest about your struggles and learning to communicate openly with family members can slowly mend broken relationships over time. I found that seeking therapy or support groups really helped me understand my own emotions and cope with the expectations that once felt overwhelming. One important insight is realizing that your value is not measured solely by how closely you match someone else's ideal image. It's okay to set boundaries and focus on your own path toward healing and growth. Sharing your authentic self and vulnerabilities can often lead to new forms of acceptance and pride that are based on genuine connection rather than perfection. If you resonate with this journey, remember you’re not alone. Others dealing with similar issues of family expectations and mental health have found strength through compassion, patience, and self-love. Opening up about these realities—whether through writing, talking with friends, or engaging in communities like those focused on #bpdtiktok and #brokenfamily—can provide a sense of community and hope. Ultimately, making peace with parental hopes and your own identity is not about meeting someone else’s standards but about finding pride in who you are becoming despite the hardships. Each step forward, even when imperfect, is a form of success worth celebrating.