It resonated deeply with me because I spent years waiting for that permission, thinking that one day I’d finally feel ready to be fully seen.
It never came.
A lot has changed since then. But one of the biggest shifts was realizing that I don’t need everyone to agree with me. I just need to be honest about what I truly believe, share what feels meaningful to me, and let it reach whoever it resonates with.
This is something I’ve been thinking about a lot in relation to my own presence online, and your words resonate with me so deeply. It’s so comforting to read that someone else has gone through these exact same feelings. Thank you so much for sharing this 🩵
This was such a wonderful read, thank you for writing and sharing it! I feel so strongly about this too, and so tired of the whole performance/content creation/strategic posting shallow conversation that's so domineering now. I was so happy when I found different communities on Substack, and the opportunity to be myself, to express my voice and to not worry about having to fit my thoughts and reflections in 1 minute videos which I never felt comfortable with. The conversation you're bringing up here feels like a counterculture movement. And I'm definitely up for this! 💚
For a long time, I thought my perspective was simply too different. I often see things very differently from the majority, so I learned to hold my voice back.
I’ve also had plenty of experiences of being perceived as “difficult” or disagreeable. People often make assumptions about me based on how I look, and then seem surprised when I challenge the room.
But eventually I started asking:
What if the perspective that feels too different is exactly the one that’s needed?
What if your voice could shift the conversation—or even help change the world? ✨
Such stories are so important - real and honest and so relatable. I am censoring my voice so much, not in real time but in my head already - so most of my thoughts don’t even reach any channel to express them because they are silenced because of what you shared so transparently.
Thank you so much Gisele, for your words with resonates so much and on different levels: being oriental, the resentment from certain people, trying to overcome this fear of showing up, being authentic... Thank you 🩷🦋
I feel guilty or narcissistic for posting but then I realize, I have nothing, NOTHING in my favour at the moment. So why not. I’m alone anyway on many fundamental levels.
I can relate to al lot of the things you write about. As an child/ women with bi cultural background. Especially where you write about working twice as hard, to get somewhere to achieve the things you want in life. And also, i'm scared to write and put it on social media. I think your writing skills a very good and powerful, you can really reach out to people.
Absolutely resonate. Whenever I feel too vulnerable in my posts and Substack pieces, I find myself editing it, removing the most vulnerable parts in case I get judged, and in case someone finally finds out how imperfect I am. Thank you for this!!
Is like you were inside my head and you were able to put it in words eloquently. I feel this so much. I am exhausted from overthinking, what should I share, what should I not, how, when, is it niche ( a word I loathe now) like if human complexity should be in tiny compartment. Ugh.
Thank you so much for this, truly. I feel like I can breathe.
This is beautiful. Thanks for sharing!
It resonated deeply with me because I spent years waiting for that permission, thinking that one day I’d finally feel ready to be fully seen.
It never came.
A lot has changed since then. But one of the biggest shifts was realizing that I don’t need everyone to agree with me. I just need to be honest about what I truly believe, share what feels meaningful to me, and let it reach whoever it resonates with.
This is something I’ve been thinking about a lot in relation to my own presence online, and your words resonate with me so deeply. It’s so comforting to read that someone else has gone through these exact same feelings. Thank you so much for sharing this 🩵
This was such a wonderful read, thank you for writing and sharing it! I feel so strongly about this too, and so tired of the whole performance/content creation/strategic posting shallow conversation that's so domineering now. I was so happy when I found different communities on Substack, and the opportunity to be myself, to express my voice and to not worry about having to fit my thoughts and reflections in 1 minute videos which I never felt comfortable with. The conversation you're bringing up here feels like a counterculture movement. And I'm definitely up for this! 💚
Yes. Sharing your truth is what matters.
For a long time, I thought my perspective was simply too different. I often see things very differently from the majority, so I learned to hold my voice back.
I’ve also had plenty of experiences of being perceived as “difficult” or disagreeable. People often make assumptions about me based on how I look, and then seem surprised when I challenge the room.
But eventually I started asking:
What if the perspective that feels too different is exactly the one that’s needed?
What if your voice could shift the conversation—or even help change the world? ✨
Such stories are so important - real and honest and so relatable. I am censoring my voice so much, not in real time but in my head already - so most of my thoughts don’t even reach any channel to express them because they are silenced because of what you shared so transparently.
So well written! "we are all exhausted by the performance" yes 100%!
Thank you so much Gisele, for your words with resonates so much and on different levels: being oriental, the resentment from certain people, trying to overcome this fear of showing up, being authentic... Thank you 🩷🦋
Beautifully written 🤍🤍
I feel guilty or narcissistic for posting but then I realize, I have nothing, NOTHING in my favour at the moment. So why not. I’m alone anyway on many fundamental levels.
Hi Gisele,
I can relate to al lot of the things you write about. As an child/ women with bi cultural background. Especially where you write about working twice as hard, to get somewhere to achieve the things you want in life. And also, i'm scared to write and put it on social media. I think your writing skills a very good and powerful, you can really reach out to people.
Absolutely resonate. Whenever I feel too vulnerable in my posts and Substack pieces, I find myself editing it, removing the most vulnerable parts in case I get judged, and in case someone finally finds out how imperfect I am. Thank you for this!!
Is like you were inside my head and you were able to put it in words eloquently. I feel this so much. I am exhausted from overthinking, what should I share, what should I not, how, when, is it niche ( a word I loathe now) like if human complexity should be in tiny compartment. Ugh.
Thank you so much for this, truly. I feel like I can breathe.
This is so true, thanks for the encouragement. Your Instagram brought me here and I really love your work🫶🏽✨