The question often arrives quietly:

“What right do I have to feel good when others are having a hard time?”

This pattern is far more common than people admit.

It’s rooted in empathy, yet it quietly grows into a belief that your wellbeing must shrink to make room for someone else’s pain.

Over time, this habit drains capacity.

Your emotional range narrows.

Your resilience thins.

Your ability to replenish yourself fades into the background.

Joy carries no threat.

Your wellbeing does not diminish another person’s experience.

And shrinking your own life has never created relief for anyone else.

When you allow yourself to feel energised, grounded, or fulfilled, something important happens: your ability to support others strengthens. You show up with clearer judgement, steadier emotion, and a healthier sense of perspective.

Your emotional health is part of the system you lead.

If you’ve been shrinking your joy out of guilt, consider the deeper question:

Who benefits — and who loses — when you do that?

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