Learning to Be a Peaceful Presence 

Hey, it’s KK,

If the past few weeks have taught me anything, it’s that I’m not as patient with myself as I thought I was. I’ve always wanted to be someone who carries peace—for myself and for others—but lately, that has felt farther away than I’d like to admit.

Some recent life shifts have made this clear. I’ve started a new job. I’ve entered a new living situation. I’m realizing I’m in my mid-twenties and still haven’t found that so-called knight in shining armor. And then there’s the long list of other things I wish I could control or fix — both for myself and for the people I love.

The truth is, I have a big heart. I care deeply. I’m a people pleaser by nature. There are a few people in my life right now that I want so badly to help — to fix their pain, solve their problems, and just make it all disappear into thin air. But the harder I tried to fix things, the more I hit an emotional wall. And worse, I ended up doing the opposite of what I intended.

Instead of bringing peace into their lives, I brought pressure. Instead of calm, I brought conflict. And in a few moments, I found myself in arguments I never meant to start. That was hard.

Photo by Manny Moreno on Unsplash

But here’s the thing — amends were made. I brought my heart forward and told those close to me how I hadn’t been showing up as the friend I wanted to be. There was forgiveness, grace, and even deeper closeness than before. But the lesson still lingers:

I can’t bring peace to others if I haven’t found it for myself.

And that realization stings. Because I’m usually the helper. The encourager. The one who shows up. But when it comes to actually taking care of me, I tend to push that aside as something I’ll “get to later.”

But if I’m not tending to my own heart — if I’m not making peace with the things in my own life — then how can I expect to pour out something I don’t have? You can’t fill someone else’s cup with an empty one.

I’m not saying we have to be perfect before we can support the people we love — not at all. But I do believe we need to pause, reflect, and make space for peace within ourselves first.

So, I’m taking this lesson to heart. And I’m choosing to work on it. Because I want to be someone who brings a calm presence. Someone who offers peace, not pressure. Love, not control.

Thanks for reading — if you made it to the end, I hope you feel a little seen, and maybe a little inspired, too.

✨ What does peace look like in your life right now?
and
✨ What’s something that’s helped you find peace when life feels a little too loud?

Let’s open the comments up for real conversation — no pressure to have the perfect answer, just share your heart if you feel like it. 💛

Until next Time,

KK