The Quiet Work of Becoming

There was a time I thought I had to prove myself to everyone. I moved through life like it was an audience I had to keep performing for: trying to say the right things, do the right things, be the right kind of person. It was exhausting. No matter how much I did, it never felt like enough.

Lately, though, I’ve been learning to focus on improving, not proving. It’s a quiet shift, but a meaningful one. I’m starting to pay attention to the parts of myself that need care, not applause. I'm learning to be more patient with my mistakes and less obsessed with being seen. It's strange how much softer life feels when I'm not constantly chasing validation.

Some days I still slip back into old habits. I catch myself wondering if people notice, if I’m doing “well enough.” But then I remember, I’m not here to impress anyone. I’m here to grow, to heal, to become more of who I really am. That kind of work isn’t always visible. It’s in the quiet choices, the hard conversations with myself, the moments no one sees.

Maybe you’re in that space too. If you are, I hope you know it’s okay to grow slowly, quietly, even clumsily. You don’t have to prove anything. You’re allowed to take your time. You’re allowed to become.

Oluwademilade from MANI