For most of my life, I’ve tried to be a peacemaker. I’ve bent, softened, stayed quiet, and carried the weight of “keeping the peace” even when my own heart was restless. I thought that was strength. I thought it was love.

But lately, I’ve realized something important: being a peacemaker doesn’t always mean silencing myself. Sometimes, it means making peace within myself.

That means speaking when I’ve been silent too long. It means standing in what I believe, even if it’s not popular. It means letting go of the endless pressure to smooth things over for everyone else while I unravel inside.

Being a peacemaker for myself doesn’t mean I stop loving people—it just means I start loving myself enough to stop living at war within.

I don’t want to be defined by the arguments I avoid or the conflicts I bury. I want to be defined by the courage to live with truth, compassion, and self-respect.

So if you see me a little less willing to bite my tongue, know it’s not anger—it’s freedom. If you notice me stepping back from certain conversations or friendships, it’s not rejection—it’s release.

I’m learning that sometimes the greatest peace we can make is the one we finally allow for our own soul.

Published by Jeff

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