Some people will say “you’ve changed” like it’s a bad thing. As if growing, learning and becoming more aware is something you should be ashamed of. Of course you’ve changed. That’s the whole point. You’re not supposed to be the same person you were five years ago. Or even last year. The version of you who tolerated everything, agreed with everyone and made decisions based only on fear is not the person you want to stay.

Change usually happens slowly and mostly happens due to disappointment, conversations that stayed with you and lessons you never asked for but deeply needed. And when you finally begin to adjust how you think, how you speak up, how you respond to what used to hurt you, even you yourself might at times start to wonder if you’re losing yourself. It doesn’t help that people around you start noticing and pointing it out. Even when they mean well, comments like “you never used to be like this” rarely feel like compliments. Our minds often twist those words into criticism, no matter the tone. And yes, sometimes people do mean them negatively. But here’s the truth. No, you’re not being difficult or distant, or not as easy going anymore. You have only changed and that is a good thing.