Friendships vs. Fitting In

There’s a huge difference between fitting in and belonging. Fitting in requires you to shrink, adjust, perform. Belonging lets you be yourself without fear.

Most teens confuse the two. You try to talk like others, dress like others, laugh at things you don’t find funny, hide your real interests — all just to be accepted. It’s exhausting, and it slowly kills your confidence.

True connection comes when you stop performing. The people who stay after seeing your real personality — those are your people.

You don’t need to fit in everywhere. You just need to belong somewhere. And that somewhere is built, not found overnight.

Give yourself permission to be real.