How you see yourself shapes what you notice, what you protect, and who you believe you need to be. These articles explore the difference between identity and image—the self you know within and the self you have learned to present. They ask what mistakes, expectations, and other people’s opinions seem to say about you, and what it costs to keep proving they are not true.
“How are you holding up?” You know they mean it. You also know the answer they expect. “I’m fine.” They nod, perhaps with a little admiration. “I don’t know how you do it.” You smile because you have no idea what else to do with that. You are holding up. The things that need doing … More When You’re the One Who’s Fine
The phone rings, and before you answer, you already know what they need. You know which question they will ask and what happened the last time. You know the details they have forgotten, the person they should call, the thing they will need after this thing is settled. You pick up. By the time the … More The Relief of Being Needed
Nothing is wrong. You get up, go to work, answer messages, pay bills, and show up when people need you. Your life works. That is what makes the feeling so difficult to explain. You are not falling apart. You are not in crisis. You may even have much of what you once hoped for. But … More A Life That Works—but Doesn’t Feel Right
