The Cost of Shrinking Yourself

The cost of shrinking yourself is something I’ve been thinking about a lot lately.

One thing I’ve realized about myself is that I naturally try to help people see possibility.

If someone feels stuck, my brain instantly starts trying to show them different perspectives, different ways of thinking, different ways they could change their situation.

I’ve always been like that.

I want people to see how much life there actually is waiting for them outside of their fear, their comfort zone, or the stories they keep repeating to themselves.

But lately, I’ve been realizing something that’s been hard for me to accept.

Not everybody actually wants to evolve.

Some people say they want change, but they’re emotionally attached to staying exactly where they are.

Even if they complain constantly or they’re unhappy or if they know their environment is draining them.

There are people who genuinely see life through a “glass half empty” lens no matter what you say, how much perspective you offer, or how much encouragement you pour into them.

And being around that energy for too long is draining to me.

I realized I was exhausting myself trying to pull people toward growth who were completely committed to their own stagnation.

At some point, I had to ask myself…Why am I pouring so much energy into convincing other people to believe in themselves while slowly abandoning myself in the process?

That realization hit me hard.

Because the truth is, I’ve spent years shrinking parts of myself to fit into environments that no longer aligned with who I was becoming.

I became quieter.
Less expressive.
Less ambitious.
Less open about the way I think.

After a while I get tired of feeling misunderstood by people who have no desire to see beyond surface-level thinking.

There are periods in my life where I can physically feel myself drifting away from who I am depending on the energy I’m surrounded by. Energy affects us more than most people realize. I start to feel like a dark room is just closing in on me when I'm surrounded in environments like this. Its not sustainable for me.

Some people don't realize it but environments that you are not happy in will drain your confidence, your motivation, your nervous system and your creativity

And if you spend enough time around people who constantly complain, constantly doubt themselves, constantly criticize others, or constantly see life from a place of limitation, eventually you start feeling heavy too.

Have you ever seen mother!?

That movie always reminded me of what it feels like to be surrounded by chaotic, unconscious, blind energy.

People consuming.
Projecting.
Reacting.
TAKING from others.
Moving through life without ever really looking inward.

Now I realize I’ve just become more intentional about protecting my energy.

I’m becoming more intentional about who gets access to me.
What conversations I entertain.
What environments I place myself in.
What energy I absorb daily.

Because I cannot continue building the life I want while constantly surrounding myself with people who are committed to staying emotionally, mentally, or spiritually stuck.

And honestly, I think one of the hardest lessons in life is realizing you cannot force awareness onto people.

You cannot heal people who enjoy their own cycles.
You cannot save people from themselves.
You cannot convince someone to see possibility if they are emotionally attached to hopelessness.

They have to want more for themselves first.

So lately, instead of trying to drag everyone around me toward growth, I’ve been redirecting that energy back into myself.

Into my creativity.
Into my goals.
Into my healing.
Into my future.
Into becoming the version of myself I know I’m capable of being.

Scared to take the leap?

Do it anyway.

The world will keep spinning.
You will keep breathing.
And somehow, little by little, everything starts falling into place the moment you stop betraying yourself.

I think that’s what people don’t realize.

You are not trapped.

You are allowed to wake up tomorrow and become someone entirely different.

You are allowed to evolve.
You are allowed to reinvent yourself.
You are allowed to change the direction of your life simply because you decided you wanted more.

Have fun with yourself.

Honestly, I see life myself like an avatar sometimes in a creative way.

Build the hottest, happiest, most aligned version of yourself possible.

You do not need to stay attached to one version of yourself forever.
One aesthetic.
One mindset.
One identity.
One story.

You can switch it up.
You can explore.
You can rebuild yourself over and over again.

Because despite everything, I still believe life is beautiful.

And I think there’s something incredibly powerful about realizing you can become whoever you want to be…simply because you say so.