You make a decision...
And then immediately ask three people whether they think you've made the right one.
Someone you care about is disappointed with you...
And suddenly you're questioning a choice that felt completely right five minutes ago.
You stay quiet...
Because you don't want to upset someone — and then spend the rest of the day frustrated with yourself for not saying what you actually wanted to say.
You're so busy checking whether everybody else is okay with your decision...
That you forget to ask whether you are.
You know you need to slow down...
But the moment some space appears in your calendar, you find something else that needs doing.
You're the person everybody relies on...
And somewhere along the way, being supportive became feeling responsible for how everybody else is doing.
Everything looks fine on paper...
Other people might even think you're doing brilliantly. And they're not exactly wrong. They just don't know how much energy it's taking to keep everything going.
You've finally created some space for yourself...
And before you know it, everybody else's needs have filled it again.
You know what helps you...
Journalling. Moving your body. Breathing. Taking some space. The things that support you can somehow become the first things to disappear when life gets difficult.
You're carrying a lot...
Work. Family. Relationships. Other people's needs. Decisions. Responsibilities. You're very good at handling things — but you're beginning to wonder how long you want to keep handling everything in the same way.
You know the pattern...
You can sometimes see yourself people-pleasing, overthinking, controlling, shutting down or putting everybody else first while you're actually doing it — but knowing doesn't always mean you can choose differently in the moment.
An old pattern appears again...
And you wonder, “Why am I here again? I thought I'd dealt with this.”
Nothing is actually wrong...
But something doesn't feel quite right. You can't necessarily explain it. You just know the way you've been doing things doesn't fit in the same way anymore.
Something good is happening...
The business is growing. You're becoming a parent. You've left the job. You're dating again. You've received the opportunity. You're becoming more visible. And you discover that growth and possibility can activate old patterns too.