I’m slowly learning other people aren’t always going to recognize how much effort I put into things. Other people aren’t always going to congratulate me when I hit milestones I’ve been fighting to reach for my entire life. They’re not always going to appreciate how many hours I’ve spent planning a certain party or working on a certain project. They’re not always going to give me the validation I’ve been craving.

That’s why I’ve decided to stop putting effort into things with the hopes other people are going to see my hard work and shower me with praise. From now on, I’m only putting effort into things for myself. For my own benefit. To make myself proud. 

I’m slowly learning that caring too much about what other people think is only going to drive me crazy. It’s only going to make me feel unloved and unappreciated. It’s only going to make me bitter and resentful.

There’s nothing more disappointing than getting excited about something, only to have that excitement ruined when no one else seems to give a shit.

Of course, that isn’t a problem if you don’t care whether or not anyone else cares. If your worth is determined by yourself and not by other people. If you place emphasis on what you think and stop caring about what the rest of the world has to say.

I’m slowly learning to put effort into things for my own well-being. If I’m doing something in the hopes of impressing other people, and then they don’t end up caring as much as I want them to care, I’m going to mope about how my hard work was all for nothing. I’m going to feel like I wasted my time. Like I shouldn’t have even bothered.

But if I do something for myself and no one else seems to care, then it won’t make a huge difference. It won’t make me spiral. It won’t make me feel like a complete failure. I’ll still be happy that I did what I did because I enjoyed the journey. I had a fun ride.

I’m slowly learning how dangerous it is to expect praise from other people. As nice as it would be to get a pat on the back for my hard work, it’s not healthy to care too much about what others think. It’s better to worry about my own opinion, to worry about my own happiness, to worry whether or not I’m doing something that makes me happy, personally.

I’m slowly learning it’s okay if other people are unable to see how hard I’ve been working.

I’m slowly learning my worth doesn’t changed based on what other people think of me.

I’m slowly learning I don’t need someone else to congratulate me in order to know I’ve done a good job.

I’m slowly learning it’s not selfish to care more about my own opinion than anyone else’s.

I’m slowly learning that, despite what anyone else thinks, I’m proud of myself. And right now, that’s enough.