It took me months of therapy to understand that I don’t need to engage in shallow conversations or fake smiles. I go straight to the point, to what really matters. If that makes me intense, so be it. Accepting myself has been a long process, but now I enjoy the clarity that comes from not having to please everyone.

Assertiveness and empathy are valuable tools, but sometimes you have to set them aside to be clear and honest. My confidence allows me to be this way. I’m not rude, I’m polite, but not a people-pleaser. I speak my mind, and that has given me a peace I never knew before.