🛑 When it feels like self-betrayal

We’ve all had moments when we feel like we’re abandoning parts of ourselves. Perhaps you’ve held back in a meeting, despite having valuable insights to share. Maybe a relationship has become more of a transaction than a true connection, leaving you feeling unsure.

It’s easy to brush these feelings aside, convincing ourselves we’re just being practical. But those small silences, ignored instincts, and the slow erosion of our wants and needs can accumulate, leaving us feeling diminished over time.

The hard truth? Staying in environments that undermine our true selves often costs us more than the fear of making a change.

Consider Howard Schultz. Inspired by the coffeehouse culture of Italy, he envisioned transforming Starbucks from a retailer of coffee beans into a vibrant gathering place. Faced with skepticism from the company’s founders, Schultz took a bold step by leaving his job to launch his own café, Il Giornale, to prove his vision. After successfully demonstrating his concept, he acquired Starbucks in 1987 and revolutionized how we experience coffee today.

Choosing ourselves isn’t always about making grand moves like Schultz’s. Often, it’s about the small, mindful decisions we make daily that lead us closer to feeling whole.

🔆 Invitation for Today 🔆

Think about one area of your life that feels out of sync with who you truly are. What’s one small step you can take — like setting a boundary, expressing a thought, or simply acknowledging that feeling — that brings you closer to your authentic self?

And if this resonates, talk it through with someone who gets it. This journey is far more powerful when we don’t walk it alone.

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