Hey Reader,
There comes a point where doing what’s expected costs us more than it gives us.
Choosing you means disappointing a few people.
And that’s okay.
But if we keep choosing others, we may gradually lose our ability to choose ourselves.
It’s easy to forget that before the accolades, the responsibilities, and the reputation, you were just you.
Today’s newsletter is about choosing you even if it makes the world uncomfortable.
Let’s dive in.
🗯️ “It was her day. Baseball was secondary.”
Recently, Red Sox manager Alex Cora faced criticism for missing a game to attend his daughter Camila’s graduation from Boston College.
Everyone had an opinion.
The media questioned it.
Some fans were disappointed.
Even his colleagues were a little surprised.
But he reminded fans, media, and even himself that before he’s a manager, he’s a dad.
He told reporters, “I made the best decision for my daughter. And for those who don’t understand, I’m not gonna try to convince them.”
Cora reminds us that our success should never be a substitute for our values.
Even when the world has eyes on you.
Especially then.
Choose you.
🧠 The world will always have an opinion…let it
Ever notice how fast people expect you to fold?
Like the second you choose your family over a meeting, or your peace over an event, suddenly you’re “not committed,” “not serious,” or “not who you used to be.”
You get side-eyed for skipping an invite because you’d rather be with your kids
Suddenly, you’re “difficult,” or “different.”
These criticisms can easily get into your head.
Now you probably feel a bit of guilt for not showing up to something because you chose to rest.
And you find yourself saying yes when you badly want to say no.
I mean, I’ve seen brilliant, bold people who chose themselves, but allowed people’s opinions to get to them.
They started doubting if they made the right call instead of feeling proud for standing by what mattered.
So be careful not to let temporary moments of praise cost you the things you cherish most.
Because, after all the effort, the world still moves on.
But you’re the one who’s left with the regret.
❤️ The world might not always get it. That’s okay.
Acting from a place that aligns with your values, even when it makes others uncomfortable, creates space for more joy and confidence in your decisions.
You build emotional clarity.
You get a clearer sense of who you are, fewer regrets, and a stronger connection to what really matters.
You set yourself up for long-term peace and fulfillment.
You’ll look back years from now and feel good about the life you built.
Every time you make a choice that honors your truth, you’re saying: “I know who I am. I know what matters. I’m not afraid to choose it.”
People won’t understand your choices.
Let them.
You have things that you can’t put second no matter what.
You’re not here to meet expectations you didn’t sign up for anyway.
🤲 Always choose yourself
When you feel pulled between what the world expects and what you want, here’s how you hold your ground without guilt:
- Pre-decide your red lines. Don’t wait until you’re in the heat of a decision to figure out what matters. Define the top 3 things that always come first. It could be family. Health. Integrity. So when life throws tough choices at you, you already know what’s non-negotiable.
- You can disappoint people with grace. Someone will always be unhappy with your choice. Let them. Before you commit to anything, ask yourself: What part of me is going to pay for this? If the answer goes against your peace, values, energy, or sanity, you know better than to say yes.
- Put a face to what matters. When it’s hard to choose what matters most, picture the thing you’re about to sacrifice as a person, a moment, or a memory you’ll miss. It could be your partner sitting at dinner alone again, or your kid scanning the crowd and not finding you, or simply your peace. When you put a face to what you’ll lose, the decision becomes easier to make.
🎯 Choose what matters
Do your choices actually reflect what you care about, or just what you’ve committed to?
What would it look like to trust that choosing yourself doesn’t make you selfish?
The highest level of success isn’t how many people agree with you, but how deeply you agree with yourself.
As Ralph Waldo Emerson says, “To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.”
So let your choices honor your non-negotiables.
With appreciation,
Huw
|
|
Huw Edwards
Founder & CEO, h3.xyz
|
