Today’s Wisdom
Imagining life without judgment can help clarify your desires apart from others’ expectations.
Read time: 6 minutes.
This is your permission to pause and take a little time for yourself.
What comes up for you when I ask, “Who are you performing for right now?”
At first, you might want to say no one, but when you dig a little deeper, you might realize how much of your energy goes into managing perceptions.
Most of us don't set out to live inauthentically. But over time, the fear of being misunderstood can tone down our excitement, hold back our real thoughts, and make us choose the safe path because we don't want anyone to question our decisions.
That is why one of my favorite journalling prompts is this:
If no one judged you, how would you show up differently in the world?
The reason I like journalling about this question is that it can help you notice the difference between what you want and what you feel others expect from you.
You may realize you want to speak up in meetings instead of staying silent.
You may realize you want to work on a project you’ve kept private .
You might stop saying yes to plans you dread just to keep the peace.
Today I challenge you to open a notebook and give yourself 5-10 minutes to journal your thoughts on the question, “If no one judged you, how would you show up differently in the world?” Don’t edit what comes out. Don’t worry about whether it sounds practical or polished. Just write down whatever comes up.
When you take the imaginary audience out of the room, you finally get to meet the person you’ve been keeping to yourself.
Love,
Jay ❤️
Whose opinion do you find yourself thinking about the most?
Your time here is far too short to spend managing perceptions, watering yourself down, or holding back your authentic self out of fear of judgment.
Has overthinking turned into anxiety?
In Ask Jay, my newest format on On Purpose, I listen to voice notes from real listeners and help work through whatever is weighing on their minds.
Do you have a question about overthinking? Maybe you're stuck replaying past conversations, or you might be currently spiraling over a decision right now and could use some advice .
Send your voice note to [email protected]. Tell me what’s on your heart.*
Thank you for reading The Daily Wisdom™ 🙏🏽
Remember, I’m in your corner today, tomorrow, and anytime you need a little permission to believe that everything is going to work out.
