Is it me or is it the world?

A reminder and accountability for me, but also throwing it out there as food for thought.

I realize it can be a very fine line between what's happening and your perception of what's happening... reality vs optics... but seriously, take some time and self-reflection and at least try to figure out the difference. "Is it me or is it the world?" is not a bad question to ask sometimes... frequently... all the time. And once you have an answer, go check again. And then keep checking. And the more certain you are of the answer, the more you should ask again.

Ironically, the people who are most sure it's the world are probably the ones who most need to check themselves. And probably won't. And for the people who most often think it's just them, know that it might well be the world that's got it wrong.

And I suspect for most of us, it's both those things, sometimes at the same time, about different things. It is for me. People are messy. And the world is rarely what we think it is.

As one way to put this to the test, no, I'm not writing this passive-aggressively about anyone I know -- if I have a problem with you, I'll just come tell you. It is genuinely a reminder to myself, and a commentary on what I perceive out there in the wider social media world.

BUT if your initial impression was that this was directed at you -- your perception, not reality -- what is that revealing about some deeper and possibly harsher truth you apparently already know about yourself? Or conversely, does it reveal some perception you hold about yourself that might be worth letting go?

And depending on which of those options resonated first, did you then ask yourself if the opposite framing might actually be the more appropriate?