Does it feel like there’s a major shift happening… or is it just me?

Feeling Like Everything Is Off

Is it just me, or does everything feel off right now? This year has been a whirlwind of change, upheaval, and self-discovery. There’s a certain heaviness in the air, like the world is shifting beneath my feet, and I can't quite put my finger on why. But something has definitely changed—inside me and around me.

The Wake-Up Call

For years, I felt like I was in a trance, stuck in a routine that I hoped would eventually spark change without any effort on my part. But this year, everything clicked. I couldn’t ignore the dissatisfaction any longer. It wasn’t just mental—it was physical. My body began reacting to the negative energy I’d been absorbing, to the people and situations that drained me. That’s when I realised: enough was enough.

Breaking Free From Self-Criticism

I was tired of tolerating my own self-criticism, of letting my inner voice tear me down, and of allowing others to reinforce those doubts. I had let people treat me like my ideas didn’t matter, like my experiences weren’t valid. I let myself believe that. But that stopped today.

It was time to reclaim my worth, to stop letting the negativity dictate my life. For so long, I absorbed the criticism, the judgment, the disapproval. I allowed myself to focus on the things that made me feel small and unimportant, while brushing aside the kindness, the love, and the support that was always there, right in front of me.

Nurturing My Own Garden

But I’m changing that. I’m learning to water my own garden, to nurture the positivity and love in my life, and to stop giving away my energy to things that drain me.

I spent too long letting my own boundaries be weak, allowing others to take what they needed from me without regard for how it affected me. They often took without realising they were draining me, and I let it happen because I didn’t set the boundaries to protect my own energy. Now, I’m learning to tend to my own needs and protect my peace.

Reevaluating Relationships

As I’ve started pulling back and focusing on what actually nourishes me, I’ve become more aware of which relationships truly support me, and which ones leave me feeling depleted. It’s not about labeling people as “toxic,” because the reality is, most people act out of their own needs, struggles, and vulnerabilities. It’s more about recognising where I was giving too much of myself away, to the point where it left me feeling ungrounded and unsure of my worth. I’ve realised that I don’t need to carry other people’s burdens at the expense of my own well-being.

It wasn’t about constant communication or checking in every day. It was about the quality of connection—those who truly make the effort to invest in me, to show up with kindness and respect. These are the relationships I want to nurture. The others—those who only reach out when they need something, or those who take without giving—I've learned to create more distance from. I can love them from a place of self-respect, but I no longer need to allow them to siphon my energy.

Choosing Growth Over Stagnation

I’m not asking for perfection, but I’m choosing growth. Growth means being more mindful of where I invest my time and energy—choosing the relationships and environments that nurture me, the ones that empower me, and letting go of those that drain me.

The Journey of Self-Love

This journey is about learning to embrace the beauty and positivity around me, about practicing self-love and self-compassion. It's about learning to tend to my own garden, to nourish my own soul. Because the more I water it, the more it thrives.