We’re living in a world where everyone thinks everything is about them. Every stare, every comment, every silence, it’s all taken personally. And I get it. It’s a human thing.

We want to be liked. We want to be seen. We care, sometimes a little too much, about how we show up in people’s minds. But the truth is, most of the time, people aren’t even thinking about us.

I used to obsess over how I was perceived. Every word I said, every outfit I wore, every little move, I’d replay it in my head wondering if I messed up, if I embarrassed myself, if someone secretly hated me.

But the thing is, most people are too busy thinking about themselves to think about you that deeply. It’s actually kind of freeing once you realize that.

But the darker side of this “everything is about me” mentality is what we’re seeing play out in the world right now. People are hurting each other. Killing each other because they feel threatened by someone else’s existence.

I think people are angry because being “less than” bruises their ego. It’s embarrassing for them to feel like they’re not on top. And instead of facing that discomfort, they lash out. But in reality?

Nobody fucking cares. Everyone’s too busy spiraling in their own heads. And maybe that’s the root of all of this. We’re trapped inside ourselves, believing every little thing is a personal attack, when really… life is just happening.

Sometimes shit happens. You lose something. Someone ghosts you. You don’t get the thing you wanted. You mess up. That’s just life. And when it does, you can either accept it, learn, and move forward, or you can blame the whole world like most people do.

If someone doesn’t like me, that’s not about me. If they misunderstand me or judge me, that’s not mine to carry. I don’t have to fix them. I don’t even have to fix myself for them. I just let it be. I really think that’s how we’re supposed to move through life. Curiously. Gently. Without holding everything so tight.

I still overthink. I still get caught up in my own head. I still wonder “why did they say that?”, “Did I do something wrong?” But at the end of all the spiralling, there’s usually a quiet moment where I realize none of it matters. None of the things I’m worrying about are actually that important.

Not in the long run. And in those moments, I give myself permission to wander and not know what’s next. Because something will happen, and whatever that is, it’s meant for me. I will go through life. I will survive things. Maybe I even believe that now.

There’s so much pressure to have your life together. But I’ve stopped chasing that. I’m learning to move at my own pace, even if it’s slower, even if it looks different. I just want to be free. I want to let go of things I can’t control. What’s the point of holding on? You’ll live. And so will I.

We’re all in this strange, chaotic, painful, beautiful thing together. And maybe we need to be a little more empathetic. Just a little. What would it hurt to be softer with each other? To give grace instead of anger? To hold space instead of judgment?

Yeah, I know. The world is a mess. There’s so much that’s wrong. But I don’t want to drown in the misery. I don’t want to live bitter. Because the world is also good. There’s light in it. There are kind people, laughter, unexpected joy. And I want to focus on that. That’s what I choose.