When the Voice of Shame is Louder than Life: A Letter to Myself

These past few days, when I wake up, there’s a voice that echoes in my mind, over and over: “You’ve done so many things wrong.” Every time I wake up, it feels like there’s an invisible weight pressing down on my heart. The voice is harsh, cold, as if it’s telling me that all my efforts, my life, are defined by past mistakes that I can’t escape, that I can’t redeem.

Sometimes, the voice becomes unbearable, almost to the point where I can’t face another day. I begin to wonder, have I really done something wrong? Am I really not enough, and the only way to escape the shame is to end everything?

At times like this, it feels like ending my life would make the world a little easier, and I wouldn’t have to bear the weight of being seen as a failure anymore.

But then, in a quiet moment, I stopped those thoughts. That voice is not mine. It doesn’t belong to me. It was implanted by a world that has taught me to judge myself by a set of standards that I never agreed to.

I used to be someone who welcomed challenges, who fought for my ideals. I’ve faced setbacks, but every failure made me stronger. I’ve made the right choices and the wrong ones, and that’s what it means to be human—who doesn’t make mistakes? Failure doesn’t equal the end. It doesn’t mean I am a mistake; it’s just a part of my journey.

Throughout these years, I’ve struggled in the workplace, faced personal lows, and even considered giving up. But I always came back. Every path I’ve walked has been a testament to my resilience—I still choose to move forward, even when my heart feels exhausted and overwhelmed.

I’ve decided to stop letting these voices define me. My value is far beyond any promotion, any business card, or any outside approval. I’ve made mistakes, but I’ve also shone brightly. Every part of me has shaped the person I am today. And today, I’m freer than I’ve ever been, truer to myself than I’ve ever been.

So, I write this blog not only as a way to heal myself but also to offer some warmth and strength to those who may be going through similar struggles. No matter where you are in life, no matter what you’ve faced along the way, you deserve to be understood and loved.

You are not your mistakes. You are not defined by your failures, and you should never let a system or a standard define who you are. You are a person full of possibilities, full of your own unique story. And you have every right to define your future, not let your past shadows cloud everything.

I love myself, despite the wounds I’ve endured, and I still choose to live. Because I know that every moment I don’t give up is a moment of strength. I will continue on my path, bravely walking toward the next day.