At some point in life, you begin to doubt yourself, not because you're mistaken, but rather because those around you don't trust you. To be honest, that emotion affects people in different ways. It slowly consumes you on the inside, even though it's not loud or dramatic.
You make an effort to clarify. You make an effort to remain composed. Considering that they could not have understood the first time, you even repeat yourself. But you know deep down that trust is more important than comprehension. Furthermore, no amount of justification seems sufficient when trust is lacking.
People may not believe you at times due to your past. Perhaps you've made mistakes in the past, or perhaps you've said something incorrectly once, and now everything you say seems to carry that shadow. Although it's unjust, it does occur. Even when you're striving to change, people still cling to past versions of you.
Sometimes it's not even about you. It concerns their personal anxieties, uncertainties, and perspectives. They make decisions based on what suits their viewpoint rather than necessarily the facts. You're fighting an uncontrollable situation at that point, which makes it frustrating.
What hurts the most is when it comes from people you actually care about. Strangers not believing you? Fine. But when it’s someone close, someone who knows you, it feels like a crack in the relationship. You start wondering, “Do they even know who I am?”
But here’s the truth: we don’t always accept that not everyone will believe you, and that doesn’t make your truth any less real. You don’t have to prove yourself again and again until you’re exhausted. At some point, you need to choose your peace over constant validation.
Yes, it hurts to be misunderstood. However, it also teaches you a valuable lesson: to maintain your identity in the face of uncertainty from others. Because in the end, you are the only one who needs to have faith in yourself.
And, just possibly, that is sufficient.
Mirhaa05 (hemirhaphysio@gmail.com) is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
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