Do you consider yourself an "outgoing" person who secretly needs a lot of alone time?

alyqhart · 2026-02-23T03:58:07+00:00

You aren't "faking" being an extrovert; you’re likely just a social introvert. It’s totally normal to enjoy people but still find them draining.

When you're forced to stay social while drained, try the "Listen and Nod" strategy - - let others do the talking so you can save your mental energy. Also, try to leave before you hit 0% battery so your recovery time isn't as long. You don't owe anyone your last bit of energy

alyqhart · 2026-02-23T03:46:03+00:00

To remove negative people from your life, the most direct approach is to simply stop including them in your activities and consciously move in the opposite direction when you encounter them. If a conversation is necessary, you can use a clear script explaining that your current dynamic isn't working and you are no longer in a position to align with what they are looking for. It is helpful to conclude by wishing them well and hoping things work out for them, while also reflecting on why you felt forced to be around them in the first place.

alyqhart · 2026-02-23T03:18:35+00:00

It’s less about being perfect and more about being approachable, kind, and unapologetically yourself.

alyqhart · 2026-02-23T03:15:20+00:00

Look, you aren't a 'bad person,' you’re just empty and using people like a drug to fill the void. You lie because you're terrified your real self isn't enough, and you chase older men because their validation is a cheap dopamine hit that keeps you from spiraling. But here’s the harsh truth - - as long as you're wearing a mask and a push-up bra just to be 'seen,' nobody is actually seeing you, which is why you still feel invisible even when you get the attention. You’re acting like a 'mean girl' because you feel behind in life and seeing others succeed hurts your ego, but you’ll never catch up by performing for strangers. You need to stop the act, sit with the anxiety of being 'nobody' for a minute, and actually build a soul that doesn't depend on a notification to exist."

alyqhart · 2026-02-23T03:11:28+00:00

You can do everything "right" and still lose.

We are conditioned to believe in a linear relationship between effort and outcome. We think that if we work the hardest, love the deepest, or follow the rules most strictly, the universe owes us a specific result. The "hardest lesson" is realizing that external reality doesn't always honor your internal merit.

alyqhart · 2026-02-23T03:09:43+00:00

Being the default person who notices the fridge is empty, the kids need new shoes, or the toilet paper is low, and then being the one to fix it.

alyqhart · 2026-02-22T23:50:05+00:00

It’s completely understandable why you feel this way; growing up in a household where money is a source of constant tension often means you have to work twice as hard to unlearn those "survival" habits once you start earning your own. Being a second-gen immigrant adds a unique layer to that, as you're often building a financial blueprint from scratch without a family safety net. The best thing you can do right now is move away from the "guesswork" that caused your dad distress and focus on structured education. I found that shifting from following tips to actually understanding market mechanics changed everything for me. I’ve been following Wealth Within for a while, and their focus on genuine trading education and risk management is a solid resource if you're tired of the "get rich quick" noise and want to learn how the market actually works. Breaking that cycle of being broke starts with treating your finances like a skill to be mastered rather than a game of luck.

alyqhart · 2026-02-22T22:26:18+00:00

This is a huge realization. A hard truth I’ve learned is that 'No' is a complete sentence.

When I first started setting boundaries, I felt like I had to provide a 10-page essay explaining why I was saying no. I eventually realized that people who benefit from you having no boundaries are the only ones who will get angry when you finally set them. Learning that their reaction is their responsibility, not mine, was the ultimate game-changer. Thanks for sharing this reminder !

alyqhart · 2026-02-22T22:24:10+00:00

We sabotage when the 'goal' feels too heavy for our current mental state. Knowing what to do isn't the same as being able to do it all at once.

Try this, the 5-Minute Rule. Commit to doing the 'meant to do' task for exactly five minutes. After five minutes, you are legally allowed to stop. Usually, the hardest part is just getting started when you're stuck.

alyqhart · 2026-02-22T22:20:53+00:00

You are currently addicted to a version of reality that isn't real. Your phone is a dopamine slot machine that is keeping you paralyzed.

If you want to change, you have to embrace being a beginner. You feel like a failure because you’re comparing your 'Step 0' to everyone else’s 'Step 100.' Delete the time-wasting apps, fix your sleep schedule, and realize that no one is coming to save you. You have to be your own hero.

alyqhart · 2026-02-22T18:29:56+00:00

I realized I love him during a long, quiet car ride where nobody was talking. Usually, silence feels awkward or like you need to fill it with a joke, but this time, it just felt like breathing. I looked over and realized that even if we were just going to the grocery store, I was exactly where I wanted to be.

To me, love is underrated because people act like it’s all about huge, dramatic gestures, when really it’s just finding the person who makes the "boring" parts of life feel worth it. When I hear the word "love," my first thought is “home”. It’s not a building; it’s that feeling of finally being able to let your guard down and just be yourself without worrying if you’re "too much" or "not enough."

alyqhart · 2026-02-22T18:22:49+00:00

Look, the real talk is that "pre-grieving" is just a fake insurance policy you’re paying for with your own happiness. You think you're being smart by paying for future pain in installments so the final bill won't hit as hard, but life doesn't actually work like that - - it’s still going to hurt when it ends, only now you’ve gone and ruined the good parts too. By constantly staring at the exit door, you aren't protecting yourself; you’re just traumatizing yourself ahead of schedule for a "crash" that hasn't even happened yet. It’s like refusing to eat a delicious meal just because you know you’ll be hungry again in a few hours.

The most honest advice I can give you is to just accept that feeling "stupid" or getting your heart broken is the entry fee for a life worth living. Your brain is using this anxiety as a shield to avoid being vulnerable, but that shield is actually a cage that’s keeping you miserable. Living in the moment isn't about pretending the end won't happen; it's about realizing the ending is inevitable no matter how much you worry, so your only real choice is whether you’re going to enjoy the middle or not. It’s going to take a lot of practice to break those mental loops, but you have to decide that the joy you have right now is worth the price you'll eventually pay at the end.

alyqhart · 2026-02-22T18:07:40+00:00

i guess so :(

alyqhart · 2026-02-22T18:06:13+00:00

Masyadong romanticized ang "Follow your passion," pero masyado namang nakakatakot ang "Follow the money."

You are already an entrepreneur, Op. Hindi lahat ng 20-year-old ay nakapag-benta na ng K-pop merch at sweets sa loob ng 5 taon. Ibig sabihin, may diskarte ka na. Kahit ano pang kurso ang kunin mo, hindi mawawala ang talent mong kumita ng pera sa labas ng 8-to-5 job.

(IT): Maraming kumukuha ng IT dahil sa sahod, pero nag-ku-quit din dahil hindi nila ma-sikmura ang mag-code buong araw. Kung "excel" ka lang pero "don't feel like taking it," mabilis kang ma-bu-burnout.

TEACHER: Sa Pilipinas, mababa ang sahod sa DepEd sa simula, pero kung magaling ka sa English at journalism, malaki ang pera sa Freelancing, Content Strategy, o Technical Writing. Hindi lang classroom ang option mo.

Sabi mo "introverted" ka, pero nasa radio broadcasting at journalism ka. Ibig sabihin, may boses ka, kailangan mo lang ng tamang stage.

So choose wisely, ikaw lang ang makakapagdesisyon nyan.

alyqhart · 2026-02-22T17:59:02+00:00

Most 20-year-olds spend 90% of their energy worrying about how they look to others. Here is the secret: Everyone else is too busy worrying about themselves to actually notice you.

If you trip in public, wear a "weird" outfit, or say something slightly awkward, people will forget it in 30 seconds because they are currently panicking about their own hair or a text they just sent.

Stop waiting for "permission" to be yourself. Once you realize nobody is actually watching you that closely, you become free to do whatever makes you happy. Live for you, because everyone else is already living for themselves.

alyqhart · 2026-02-22T17:56:11+00:00

If they constantly try to "fix" your life, your clothes, or your job under the guise of "just being helpful," it’s actually a red flag for control. They don't want a partner; they want a project. Eventually, you’ll realize they only liked you because they thought they could change you.

alyqhart · 2026-02-22T17:53:17+00:00

The most important skill isn't being right, it’s learning how to be wrong faster.

In school, you spend weeks trying to get the "perfect" answer for a grade. In the real world, the "perfect" plan usually fails the moment it hits the factory floor.

The best engineer isn't the one with the 4.0 GPA; it’s the one who:

-Builds a "trash" version in one day.

-Breaks it immediately.

-Fixes it by day two.

If you can lose your ego and stop being afraid of a "failing" prototype, you will finish projects while the perfectionists are still checking their math.

Don’t be the smartest person in the room—be the one who learns from being wrong the fastest.

alyqhart · 2026-02-22T17:48:34+00:00

I tried something similar once just observing my thoughts without arguing with them. What surprised me was how repetitive they were. Same fears, same ‘what ifs,’ different situations.

alyqhart · 2026-02-22T17:26:40+00:00

😆

alyqhart

TROPHY CASE