The Weight of Inner Shadows
We crave sunshine. We chase smiles, surround ourselves with positivity, and clift our days with bright energy. But behind the curated smiles, a quiet battle rages. My inner world is a dimly lit room, where forgotten whispers echo louder than the cheer of the outside world.
It’s not that I don’t want to sparkle—I do. I want to laugh without effort, to let the light in without it being filtered through a haze of thoughts. But my mind is a relentless curator of the past, replaying moments I’d rather erase. The "what-ifs" linger like shadows, dimming my glow.
Every attempt to rise feels like a tug-of-war. The world says, “Be happy,” but my mind asks, “What if you fail? What if they leave?” It’s exhausting to outshine the doubts. Sometimes, the brightest smiles are the masks we wear to hide the dimness within.
But here’s the truth: it’s okay for the light to flicker. It doesn’t mean it’s gone—it means it’s adjusting to the weight it carries. Maybe the goal isn’t to silence the shadows, but to learn to carry them with grace. To acknowledge the dimness, breathe, and let the light shine _despite it._
I’m learning to be kinder to this dimming light. To let go of the pressure to always glow. Because even a soft glow can light up the dark.
