You can be liked or you can be real.

You can be liked or you can be real. 

You can't be both.

I used to twist myself into knots trying to be easy to work with. Easy to like. Easy to keep around.

I'd laugh at things that weren't funny.

Agree with opinions I didn't believe.

Stay quiet when I had something to say.

And you know what? It didn't even work.

People can feel when you're performing.

They might not say anything. But they feel it.

The moment I stopped shrinking, some people left.

And honestly? Good.

Because the ones who stayed didn't need me to pretend.

That's the filter working.

Stop auditioning for people who were never your audience.

♻️ Repost if someone needs to hear this.

Image credit: @selfcareforheart

— Shulin Lee 💛