04/11/2025
πππππWhen youβre met with criticism or judgment, it can be deeply challenging not to take it personally. Words can carry energy, and when that energy feels heavy or cutting, itβs natural to want to defend yourself, explain, or internalise the sting. But it helps to remember that not every opinion or reaction deserves a place within you.
Not everything that comes your way is meant for you to hold. Some feedback can be usefulβit can help you see blind spots, strengthen your character, or guide your personal growth. Constructive insight, even when uncomfortable, often comes from a place of care or truth. But other comments may be rooted in someone elseβs pain, insecurity, or misunderstanding. When people speak from their own unhealed places, their words often reflect more about where they are than who you are.
In those moments, I like to visualise a soft, protective bubble surrounding me. Itβs light and gentle, not a wall of resistance, but a boundary of awareness. Through this bubble, I allow in anything that feels aligned, supportive, or constructiveβlessons that can help me grow. But anything that feels unkind, personal, or unnecessary simply bounces back, dissolving before it can touch me. This isnβt about ignoring others or pretending their words donβt matter; itβs about choosing what deserves space in your heart and what does not.
You always have that choiceβthe choice to absorb what serves you and release what doesnβt. Protecting your peace doesnβt mean closing yourself off from the world; it means staying open with discernment. Itβs learning to listen without losing yourself. Itβs giving yourself permission to stay soft, even in a world that can sometimes feel sharp.
When you honor that boundary, you begin to move through life with more calm and confidence. You trust your inner compass more than the noise around you. And over time, youβll find that protecting your peace isnβt an act of self-defenseβitβs an act of deep self-respect.