I've been trying to catch myself when someone asks,

"How have you been?"

Not so I can give a better answer. Just so I answer the question that was actually asked.

It's a surprisingly small shift. But every now and then, it reminds me to check in with the one person I forget to ask most often.

Myself.

You are not responsible for every emotion around you. You are not required to interpret every silence, tone, or reaction as a reflection of your value. People will always carry their own experiences, their own stress, and their own perspectives. Learning to recognise that truth does not distance you from others.

It simply allows you to remain steady within yourself.

Not taking everything personally is not about becoming less caring, it is about becoming less burdened.

And when that burden lifts, relationships feel lighter, conversations feel clearer, and your inner world becomes a much calmer place to live.