Don’t Confuse My Low Point With My Whole Story

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About three weeks ago, I was scrolling on TikTok and paused on a video that only showed half of a woman’s face. I’m not sure why I stopped, but I’m glad I did. What she said cut deep and sat with me:

“Sometimes people catch you in an off-season, and they genuinely believe that’s all you are.”

The moment she said that, I started smiling. Because that’s me. I’ve lived through it more times than I can count, and the minute I outgrew their expectations, the same people who once smiled in my face couldn’t stand me anymore.

Here’s the thing: people are strange. They will study you when you’re low, when you’re broken, when you’re off your game. Then, they write a whole story in their heads about who you are, as if your struggle is permanent. They measure you by that moment, not realizing it’s just a season, not a life sentence.

And when you bounce back? When you heal, elevate, and step back into your power? Suddenly, you’re “different.” Suddenly, you’re “the enemy.”

I’ll never forget meeting someone during a particularly rough time. I was depressed, trying to escape a toxic relationship, and to distract myself, I helped her with her business. She didn’t know my background. She didn’t know I had been a business coach trained by one of the best. She only saw me in survival mode, not in my power.

So when she said to me one day, “You lived your best time this year,” I froze. Because what she called my best time was actually my lowest. I was doing manual labor in the heat, unpaid, fighting daily battles in my mind. That wasn’t my best life; that was me trying to breathe while drowning.

And that’s when I knew: she was one of those people who mistake your off-season for your permanent season. She thought she was “putting me on,” when in reality, I was giving her free knowledge and labor. She thought she had me figured out until I pulled back and elevated.

This is the part people don’t talk about: once you grow, the same people who benefited from you being down will start to resent you. They’ll take shots, throw shade, or accuse you of changing.

But here’s the truth: I’m supposed to change. We all are. Growth means I’m not the same woman I was yesterday, last month, or last year. And if the only version of me you can handle is the broken one, then I was never safe around you anyway.

So let me say it plainly, how you found me is not how I’m staying. My off-season was temporary; my growth is permanent.

If you’re surrounded by people who only value you broken, stuck, or beneath them, get away. Protect your peace. Elevate without apology.

Because the real betrayal isn’t you changing; it’s them hoping you wouldn’t.


💛 Thank you for reading! I hope today’s post sparked reflection, inspiration, or maybe even a little healing. Be sure to check back next week for a new dose of truth, growth, and real talk here on Unaltered Voices, where authenticity always has a seat at the table.

🌐 Visit https://payhip.com/UnalteredVoices to explore more resources, guides, and inspiration for your personal and creative journey. See you next week!

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