what would change if you let people see you tired?
there's a performance in always looking okay. it takes energy you don't have, spent on making sure no one sees how little energy is left.
every day there's one live question, the same for everyone. answer it anonymously, see what other people said. it's all gone in seven days.
answer today's question →think about the last time someone asked how you were and you said fine when you weren't. write about what you were actually feeling in that moment. then imagine you'd told the truth. not dramatically, just honestly. 'i'm really tired.' write about what you think would have happened. who would have stepped forward? who would have stepped back? what are you afraid people would do with that information? write about the version of yourself that other people see and compare it with how you actually feel most days. notice the gap. then write about one person who might be safe enough to show it to.
- write about what your tiredness actually looks like when nobody's watching.
- think about who in your life would treat your exhaustion with care, and who would treat it as a problem to solve.
- ask yourself what you believe about people who admit they're struggling, and whether you'd apply the same standard to yourself.
this is for people who hold it together so well that nobody thinks to check on them. for anyone whose competence has become a kind of camouflage.