The Expectations of Others

Morning Mantra: "Someone else's expectations for you don't have to be your expectations for yourself." For too long, many of us internalized the belief that our worth is tied to how much we endure, accommodate, or sacrifice. But peace kept through self-erasure is not peace—it’s performance. Real healing begins when we unlearn the reflex to shrink ourselves to soothe discomfort that isn’t ours. When we stop setting ourselves on fire to illuminate the darkness in others, we discover our...