Hey there. There’s a question I think we all need to ask ourselves from time to time. Who are we really living for? If the answer is anyone other than ourselves, it might be time to step back and reassess. I know how hard it is to admit that you might be doing what you do to prove something to someone else. I’ve been there.
When I first started putting out content, I was operating with a massive chip on my shoulder. Growing up with a physical disability, I was called names regularly. Kids in school didn’t understand the difference between physical and cognitive disabilities, so I got labeled unfairly and harshly. I carried that with me for a long time. I thought I had to prove everyone wrong. I thought success would somehow erase what they said. It didn’t.
At some point, I realized the constant drive to prove myself wasn’t coming from a place of confidence. It was anxiety. It was hurt. It was this endless loop of needing external validation. And no matter how much I did or accomplished, it never really felt like enough.
That’s the trap. When you’re doing things for others, especially people who aren’t even in your life anymore, you lose yourself. You end up feeling burned out and disconnected. The only way forward is to start showing up for yourself. To do things because they align with who you are and what you want, not because you’re trying to change someone’s opinion or prove your worth.
This isn’t easy. It takes time. It might take therapy. It takes honesty and repetition. But the freedom that comes with living for yourself is worth it. You don’t need to carry the weight of everyone else’s expectations. You don’t need to prove anything to anyone. You just need to figure out who you are and keep showing up for that person.
And if you're in the process of doing that right now, I’m proud of you. Keep going. You’ve got this.
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