You are shocked when you hear of troubles another has been bearing about which you had no awareness. And it is no surprise that you are surprised, for are you not trained from the very youngest age to smile for the camera? As the smallest child you noticed that the reaction was much more pleasant from those around you when you laugh and smile, and so you do this more often than crying for attention. And yet, inside, you hold much pain.
Do not think that you are alone in this. All humans carry trauma and suffer. All of you. Hold this in awareness and you will have greater compassion for those who act out. And the next time you are asked, “How are you?’ And you are really not “fine,” find that energy inside you that grows thicker and more dense the more you deny it and give it a chance to safely breathe. Reply instead, “You know? I have been better. Could I tell you about it?” Release safely that which you are suppressing, dear one, and find balance.
You are so very loved.
If only we could find the courage to do that and not have people think we are weak
But Jaqueline, when others see you as weak, it may mean they are stronger than you; if and when that seems true, be happy for them. Just don’t assume that they are stronger than you. And don’t assume that if indeed you are behaving as though weak, you may well be pointing out a strength, in such a way with which others are not familiar. There are a lot of possibilities why others might see you as, (or choose to see you as) weak, however, it does not matter what others “think” of you. What matters is that even in moments when you feel others are minimizing you being… it is you who needs to know you are doing no such thing. ONLY YOU need to KNOW who you are, what your strengths and weaknesses are or are not. ONLY YOU truly get to choose in which direction your strengths and /or weaknesses need to journey. ONLY YOU! So why worry about what others think. Why think of their opinions as a slight on you, or an insult, degradation, sign of jealousy, them having a bad day or…. whatever… it doesn’t matter unless you allow it to matter to you. Even then, the matter IS up to you to set aside and deal with your own view of self. Enjoy self. Let others be what/who they feel they need to be. Happy, sad, miserable, shit-disturbers, angels, warriors, pacifists… we are all, all those things, to one degree. The only ONE you can relate to and FEEL part of the whole that YOU are, IS by KNOWING the ONE YOU BE, the ONE YOU ARE, the ONE you KNOW IS YOU.
Their “wrong nor right” opinions of you at any given moment, does not truly matter. Your best view of self is what takes you where you need to be. That is a learning curve (one of many) from which we all learn.