At a certain point in my life, I found myself constantly being drained by people.

Interacting with them felt like a chore and I could not figure out why. I blamed it on people initially and just thought people were draining so they naturally drained me.

But I soon realized I was draining myself in a lot of situations because I was forcing things.

I would try so hard to appear a certain way which felt unnatural. It led me to feeling out of it & detached from myself after interactions. I realized I was going beyond myself and being fake.

I was using up unnecessary energy when I could just be natural.

A Word of Wisdom: People are just people. We do not have to allow them to take anything from us, even our energy. 

Furthermore, I had a warped view of people, that influenced me to put on an act.

I saw certain people as being above me.

If I thought someone was above me, I felt I had to show that I was deserving of their time and attention.

This led me to overdoing things and faking my feelings and emotions.

I now realize that no one is above me. I do not have to allow anyone to take my energy and I don’t have to unnecessarily give my energy to anyone.

I do not have to prove myself to anyone, and behaving in a fake way, will not leave me with anything but no energy.

Who I am is enough, and I do not need to force laughter and smiles to maintain friendships.

I can just be, and knowing and accepting that, is so freeing.