Changing myself, trying to be interesting enough, editing my personality to match what I thought they wanted. I worried constantly about whether they liked me. I replayed conversations in my head obsessively. I tried to be someone I'm not just for a moment of their approval. 😕

And then one day I realized something: I don't even like who they are. I never actually did. I was just attracted to the idea of their approval, not to the actual person. Why did I spend so much energy trying to impress someone whose opinions I don't actually value? Why did I change myself for someone I wouldn't even choose to spend time with if they weren't paying attention to me? It's such a waste. 💔

Now when I catch myself doing this—trying to impress someone—I ask: would I actually want this person in my life if they didn't make me feel important? Usually the answer is no. And that's liberating. I'm learning to stop wasting my time and energy on people I don't even like. It sounds simple, but it changes everything. 🤔