this concept has been on my mind so much especially as i am entering my mid-twenties, and you articulated it all with such wisdom and thoughtfulness. thank you for sharing this.
Some people are contrarians. Whether it be from jealousy, envy, bitterness, ignorance or malice. No matter what you do and say they will deliberately misunderstand, misinterpret and misrepresent. Like you say it's futile to try and clarify. It's a waste of energy, time, and resources. They want to say that 5 + 2 = 24? Let them. They want to say that you think, feel, did, are motivated by xyz and you know it's complete nonsense? Let them. The people who have common sense in their heads won't behave that way. And you will continue living your life knowing that you are committed to your values.
Hannah, I want you to know that I’ve come back to read this article 3 times so far, because I keep finding something new about myself in it. I’m so tired of hanging on the perceptions other people have of me to define who I am as a person. All that’s done so far is leave me with is a lack of substance in who I am and regret when I realize I don’t like the version of myself I made to please them.
thank you so much for this! life and people are unfair to you, that's a fact that will always stand, but there are people who will want to hear your truth and who will appreciate you for it. moulding a person to please the people that made up their minds anyway is, in the long scheme of things, pointless. it's easier to mould and adapt than to sit in the discomfort that comes with being yourself.
I used to think clarity meant explaining myself; spelling out my intentions, drawing maps to my heart for anyone who got me wrong. But here’s the truth: some people don’t misunderstand you by accident. They do it because it’s easier than rethinking their assumptions. So now, when someone paints a version of me that doesn’t match who I am, I let them keep it. Why argue when their opinion lives rent-free in their head, not mine? I’m not here to be universally understood. I’m here to live a life that feels right from the inside out. And if that means being a mystery to others, so be it.
Thank you for posting this, Hannah! You are living your Truth, and the wildfire of authenticity can never be truly extinguished by the winds of time. I am very excited to follow your writing journey.
Hannah, thank you so much for writing this piece. As someone who is still trying her best to embrace my human flaws with compassion, your words have brought me hope that I am deserving of softness and kindness despite making mistakes.
It took me so long to learn these lessons and reading this just made me re-learn them… at just the right time when I needed to read this… thank you so much writing this! It’s such a hopeless battle — my inner peace has to win out over these hopeless struggles!
“I spent so much time looking for validation, worrying about whether I’m understood, feeling like the world is collapsing when I realise I’m being wildly misunderstood. I’m always fighting to prove my worth to people who I find out might never see me clearly, because they can’t or they simply decided that they won’t.
The thing is that it’s exhausting. I want to stop bending to fit the expectations of others, and learn to stand firm in who I am. That’s what self respect is to me: it’s the difference between living authentically and constantly shapeshifting to make others comfortable or feel better. “
for some reason i read the title of this as "shut up! you're NOT the only one who knows you" and was expecting a completely different approach to what i read. i was pleasantly surprised to find myself comforted reading this anyways. thank you for sharing, i'm glad you're discovering these things for yourself 💗
i love this
thanks for reading!
This caressed a wound I have carried in me since childhood.
This is incredible!
thanks so much for reading :)
i've come back to this piece so many times now.
this concept has been on my mind so much especially as i am entering my mid-twenties, and you articulated it all with such wisdom and thoughtfulness. thank you for sharing this.
thank you for coming back. you guys are the reason I'll always keep this up. thank you for reading 🫶🏼
I love this
Some people are contrarians. Whether it be from jealousy, envy, bitterness, ignorance or malice. No matter what you do and say they will deliberately misunderstand, misinterpret and misrepresent. Like you say it's futile to try and clarify. It's a waste of energy, time, and resources. They want to say that 5 + 2 = 24? Let them. They want to say that you think, feel, did, are motivated by xyz and you know it's complete nonsense? Let them. The people who have common sense in their heads won't behave that way. And you will continue living your life knowing that you are committed to your values.
you're so wise, and so right! no one can know your motivations, they can only assume
i literally read this when i needed to most, i loved this so so so much
this warms my heart so much you have no idea! come back whenever you need to 🫂
Hannah, I want you to know that I’ve come back to read this article 3 times so far, because I keep finding something new about myself in it. I’m so tired of hanging on the perceptions other people have of me to define who I am as a person. All that’s done so far is leave me with is a lack of substance in who I am and regret when I realize I don’t like the version of myself I made to please them.
thank you so much for this! life and people are unfair to you, that's a fact that will always stand, but there are people who will want to hear your truth and who will appreciate you for it. moulding a person to please the people that made up their minds anyway is, in the long scheme of things, pointless. it's easier to mould and adapt than to sit in the discomfort that comes with being yourself.
Games are not just entertainment, they are windows to understanding the world and others.
——Playing with Reality (written by Kelly Clancy)
I used to think clarity meant explaining myself; spelling out my intentions, drawing maps to my heart for anyone who got me wrong. But here’s the truth: some people don’t misunderstand you by accident. They do it because it’s easier than rethinking their assumptions. So now, when someone paints a version of me that doesn’t match who I am, I let them keep it. Why argue when their opinion lives rent-free in their head, not mine? I’m not here to be universally understood. I’m here to live a life that feels right from the inside out. And if that means being a mystery to others, so be it.
Thank you for posting this, Hannah! You are living your Truth, and the wildfire of authenticity can never be truly extinguished by the winds of time. I am very excited to follow your writing journey.
thanks so much for this sweet comment 🤍🤍 it feels so rewarding
Of course! Excited for your upcoming books as well.
Hannah, thank you so much for writing this piece. As someone who is still trying her best to embrace my human flaws with compassion, your words have brought me hope that I am deserving of softness and kindness despite making mistakes.
thanks so much for reading! I'm so glad this resonated with you & ended up helping you. wish you lots of healing 🫂
It took me so long to learn these lessons and reading this just made me re-learn them… at just the right time when I needed to read this… thank you so much writing this! It’s such a hopeless battle — my inner peace has to win out over these hopeless struggles!
“I spent so much time looking for validation, worrying about whether I’m understood, feeling like the world is collapsing when I realise I’m being wildly misunderstood. I’m always fighting to prove my worth to people who I find out might never see me clearly, because they can’t or they simply decided that they won’t.
The thing is that it’s exhausting. I want to stop bending to fit the expectations of others, and learn to stand firm in who I am. That’s what self respect is to me: it’s the difference between living authentically and constantly shapeshifting to make others comfortable or feel better. “
thank you for reading :)
thank u thank u thank u
thank you for reading :)
Your so real for this and i felr it deeply, going to do some journal abr this thank uuu 💗
thank you for reading, enjoy your journaling session <3
for some reason i read the title of this as "shut up! you're NOT the only one who knows you" and was expecting a completely different approach to what i read. i was pleasantly surprised to find myself comforted reading this anyways. thank you for sharing, i'm glad you're discovering these things for yourself 💗
thank you so much for reading 🫂