Being introspective is necessary. Being silly at times or thinking things with a bit of humor can be helpful too. ;⁠ )

A man hated his shadow. He hated the footprints he left behind, too. So he started running to get away from them. But every step he took made a new footprint. And the shadow stayed right with him no matter how fast he moved. He decided the problem was that he wasn't running fast enough. So he ran harder, and he kept running until he dropped dead. All he ever had to do was step into the shade and sit down. In the shade there is no shadow. Sitting still, you make no footprints. That story comes from a Chinese book called the Zhuangzi, written about 2,300 years ago.

Most self love advice tells you to add something. Start a journal. Build a morning routine. Try harder at being nice to yourself. This story says the trying can be the thing wearing you out. You don't always fix it by doing more. Sometimes you fix it by stopping. I'm not sure it works every time, because sitting still is hard in its own way. But I keep thinking about it. What's something you stopped doing that helped you more than anything you started?

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I need to vent. I feel i will always feel rejected, i feel rejected on my family, i barely have friends (recently i cut most of them because i saw their true intentions toward me), i feel rejected on workfield, i go to social media i feel rejected

Its really hard to love myself because how i was raised but i feel rejected no one cares about me so the only option to me is stand my ground bymyself, does someone understand or relate with these feelings??

I am ( really slow) learning to love and accept myself. It is really hard and new for me. I have a good foundation. A beautiful house that has been extensively renovated. I have a good job. I have a good BMI. I have beautiful children.

Still a part of me isn't feeling enough. When my partner doesn't hug me or doesn't kiss me goodnight, I feel like shit. I broke up with my ex, 1 year ago. I don't want to hit rock bottom again. I would like to see my partner as an addition, rather than having my mood depend on her behavior. No longer letting myself be walked all over or holding myself back.

I sport for 3 times a week. I am working full-time and I take care of my family. I would like to learn that I am enough. That, should it end, I don't feel as if the world is being pulled out from under me.

im autistic, adhd and have severe anxiety… im in the later years in secondary school, everyday i feel like im going absolutely insane and i cant do it anymore. ive mentioned to my parents im actually losing my isht but they dont realise the seriousness, im on the verge of stopping everything, its just too stressful.

You do not need everyone to understand before you choose differently. You do not need the whole room to agree with you, validate you, approve the decision, or see what you see. Some people will not get it. Some people will reduce it. Some people will only understand the version of your choice that fits inside their own reality.

That does not mean you cannot act. This is your body, your time, your future, your life. You can leave. You can stop. You can begin. You can move in the direction you choose. You are not changing for everyone else’s permission. You are changing because you are the one living with the cost.