Excerpt: “The upsetting implication, and why I sometimes avoid recognizing my own agency, is that if I have a choice, then what I’m doing is actually what I chose to be doing. This can be kind of upsetting for one’s self-image.”
The only thing I should feel is compassion because that’s the only thing I wish for people to feel for me. So I will do my best to give grace to everyone. But often the hardest thing is to give that grace to ourselves.
A great deal of advice can be framed in terms of: "do what gives you energy"
1) Surround yourself people that inspire you, not people that put you down
2) Do stuff you like, because that gives you more energy -> feedback loop of energy and interest and focus
one of the most liberating things was realizing that I'm allowed to relate to the world in any way I want
my reasons and my approach don't need to make (cultural) sense or be explicit to be effective
I can set my own goals and standards for success