Just checking in.

There is a “live and let live” aspect to it too @Teej. I find it helpful to consider that different ways are not necessarily wrong ways ..... they are just different, sonas in my case it also becomes about boundaries ..... and we are all entitled to our own boundaries about what we believe, how we feel, whether or not we feel the need to justify ourselves, etc.

Even a sort of “pack mentality” like I am faced with hasn’t come out of nowhere. It developed as a means for survival, and a means for getting ahead, and I have benefitted from the more positive aspects of it, and am grateful for that ..... but gratitude doesn’t make me beholden to the parts that go against the grain of my value system (boundaries there too).

Empathy is important, but self-empathy is too, in justifying ourselves. It comes back to dealing ourselves a hand of cards at the table, not just dealing to everyone else. Part of self-empathy can be determining how and when justifying ourselves is important, and to whom.

With most things, it doesn’t have to happen all at once either. There is generally time to consider a response and how we feel about it, or coming back and revisiting a conversation after thinking about it some more, especially amongst people who care about you, but even with those who don’t so much, or have little investment.

With practice it becomes more intuitive.

💜🌷 @Teej

@Faith-and-Hope I dropped out for a bit. There is lots in your post and I really appreciate it. It has felt like I have been struggling with this for a very long time. I so want to work through this stuff in therapy but I’m not getting a chance. 💜🤗

@Teej

Hearing you @Teej and how much you have on your plate and so much to deal with. Listening and sitting with you Hon

Love to @CheerBear too - knowing you are still very much in that wonky place with so much on your plate too Hon

Hugs @Teej

Hearing you @Teej ..... and big ❤️ from me too .....

Give yourself big ✅’s for what has been achieved .....

You’re taking strides @Teej, as difficult as this place is right now, and those strides are moving you beyond this place, so keep striding, one stride at a time.

Full-on cheer squad right here for you. You go girl ❣️

Thanks @Shaz51 , @Zoe7 , @Snowie , @Faith-and-Hope , @Sans911 , @CheerBear . 💜🤗

I’m going to slink off now and spend some time jigsaw puzzling.

Big hugs @Teej ❤️🌹

Puzzles sounds good.

I am Photoshopping tonight, but I will be around .....

Love you ❣️