Thank you for this. It felt like a quiet, necessary correction to the noise of the algorithm.
The line about your parents' loungeāthe one filled with clashing patterns and African sculpturesāstopped me. You articulated something Iāve felt but never named: the difference between a house that is decorated and a home that is lived into. My own home is a collection of such "imperfect clues," and Iāve often felt the pressure to streamline them into a more cohesive, and ultimately, blander, whole. Youāve reframed them not as clutter, but as chapters.
This, for me, was the core of it: āConfidence isnāt built by being liked. Itās built by liking what you like.ā Iāve spent a lifetime outsourcing my validation, and this simple reversal feels like a key. Itās the antidote you promised.
My reflective takeaway is this: Iām going to spend this week noticing one thing each day that I genuinely like, separate from its trend statusāa specific song, the way light hits a mug, a worn-out phrase I useāand just acknowledge it. A small exercise in strengthening that inner compass.
Mo, your reflection is so beautifully put ānot clutter, but chaptersā captures it perfectly. That small daily practice you mentioned feels like the purest form of self-trust: noticing what quietly feels like you. Itās amazing how those tiny acknowledgments can turn into a language of inner alignment.
Sydney - this was incredible. This is something Iāve noticed myself falling victim to, especially with comparison and feeling like my taste has to fall into place with āwhatās trendingā or what people in my life are interested in. Instead of appreciating the self-expression and taste of others and embracing it. I took it as why didnāt I think of that, or I should do that too. When my taste is unique and just as powerful.
This brought such a new perspective and light. Keep writing I love this content š«¶ itās so important for people to know that weāre all experiencing life for the first time, and no one has it figured out - and never will.
This is one of the nicest messages. Btw your experience is so relatable, Iāve had those some thoughts. You encouraging me to keep writing means a ton. ā¤ļø thank you x
Totally Sarah, thatās exactly why i love LP hunting. A little discovery, effort, uncertainty & wonder. And the risk of a little disappointment but then committing & finding some gems because you put some dollars down & decide to go deeper than ānextā!
This was beautifully done ā reflective without pretense.
You turned ātasteā into something sacred: an act of self-trust.
The way you wrote āconfidence isnāt built by being liked, itās built by liking what you likeā felt like a quiet manifesto for creative integrity.
A reminder that authenticity isnāt loud ā itās lived. š¤
this is so niche, but when I was in middle school, I too wanted a pair of Adidas Superstars purely because every girl I deemed "fashionable" at my school had them! I never did get them, but I'd wanted them so bad.
now that i'm in college, i've started working towards being more in tune with my tastes instead of relying on what's "popular." this was the perfect stepping stone in that journey! i absolutely adored thisš¤
This is exactly it!! One of my biggest problems with myself is that I don't feel confident in my own opinions. (There are so many opinions being shouted into the void, after all.) Something I started doing was going on Pinterest and just pinning things that I liked. Clothes, home decor, etc. It has been the tiniest way to get to know myself and what I like. You're so right, confidence is knowing what you like. Thank you for putting this into words!
I do that too ! Giving your style funny names is something Iāve found fun. I have a board called āearthy mamaā for all the hippy clothes Iād be wearing if I didnāt work in corporate š¤£ā¤ļø
iām currently writing a book and reading this conceptual piece about defining oneās artistic likes and dislikes helped me find the line between what I want to create and what I think others could want me to create āļø
thank you for putting your ideas into words and Iām excited to read the next.
Love this so much. The more we lean into our own quirks and tastes, the more we give permission to ourselves first to be authentic, and then others too. No brainer. āŗļø
Thank you for sharing this perspective. I so appreciate the reminder that confidence has more to do with our inner alignment than anything ā and discernment is so key to building our inner world, our self-trust. Made me think too, of the concept of Strongest Sense in Human Design. For people with Outer Vision Strongest Sense, beauty isnāt frivolous, itās literally the way we take in the world. Weāre here to make life beautiful āØ and there is so much worth in that.
I love everything about this! I deleted Instagram and tik tok a few months ago and I love just sitting with my thoughts, figuring out what I like! Itās much more fulfilling than being told what we should and shouldnāt gravitate towards.
This became one of my favorites here. As a person who donāt know what I want, I often search for people who I can be, and itās honestly draining because I felt like I am no longer myself, I just search for people.
This made me realize that itās okay that I like the things that I like. I used to please people by mirroring what they want in life and itās detaching me for who I really am.
Thank you for this. It felt like a quiet, necessary correction to the noise of the algorithm.
The line about your parents' loungeāthe one filled with clashing patterns and African sculpturesāstopped me. You articulated something Iāve felt but never named: the difference between a house that is decorated and a home that is lived into. My own home is a collection of such "imperfect clues," and Iāve often felt the pressure to streamline them into a more cohesive, and ultimately, blander, whole. Youāve reframed them not as clutter, but as chapters.
This, for me, was the core of it: āConfidence isnāt built by being liked. Itās built by liking what you like.ā Iāve spent a lifetime outsourcing my validation, and this simple reversal feels like a key. Itās the antidote you promised.
My reflective takeaway is this: Iām going to spend this week noticing one thing each day that I genuinely like, separate from its trend statusāa specific song, the way light hits a mug, a worn-out phrase I useāand just acknowledge it. A small exercise in strengthening that inner compass.
thank you for engaging with this piece so deeply Mo !
Beautifully done. Itās no suprises your subscribers took off by the numbers you truly have a gift ā¤ļø
ššš thank you !
Mo, your reflection is so beautifully put ānot clutter, but chaptersā captures it perfectly. That small daily practice you mentioned feels like the purest form of self-trust: noticing what quietly feels like you. Itās amazing how those tiny acknowledgments can turn into a language of inner alignment.
Annie from the SoftlyWished Team
Taste feels like the quiet art of remembering yourself.
It isn't rebellion or trend... it's the moment your inner world finally shows its face in the outer one.
your visual autobiography š«¶
Sydney - this was incredible. This is something Iāve noticed myself falling victim to, especially with comparison and feeling like my taste has to fall into place with āwhatās trendingā or what people in my life are interested in. Instead of appreciating the self-expression and taste of others and embracing it. I took it as why didnāt I think of that, or I should do that too. When my taste is unique and just as powerful.
This brought such a new perspective and light. Keep writing I love this content š«¶ itās so important for people to know that weāre all experiencing life for the first time, and no one has it figured out - and never will.
This is one of the nicest messages. Btw your experience is so relatable, Iāve had those some thoughts. You encouraging me to keep writing means a ton. ā¤ļø thank you x
Totally Sarah, thatās exactly why i love LP hunting. A little discovery, effort, uncertainty & wonder. And the risk of a little disappointment but then committing & finding some gems because you put some dollars down & decide to go deeper than ānextā!
This was beautifully done ā reflective without pretense.
You turned ātasteā into something sacred: an act of self-trust.
The way you wrote āconfidence isnāt built by being liked, itās built by liking what you likeā felt like a quiet manifesto for creative integrity.
A reminder that authenticity isnāt loud ā itās lived. š¤
Thank you so much ! š©µš«¶
āAt its core, taste is self trustā I never thought about it like this!!
this is so niche, but when I was in middle school, I too wanted a pair of Adidas Superstars purely because every girl I deemed "fashionable" at my school had them! I never did get them, but I'd wanted them so bad.
now that i'm in college, i've started working towards being more in tune with my tastes instead of relying on what's "popular." this was the perfect stepping stone in that journey! i absolutely adored thisš¤
what are the chances! another woman on the other side of the world with a similar experience. Thanks Kea!
youāre so welcome! how lovely it is to relateš„¹
My early morning read just got better. No, my day just got better. Actually You know what? You just made my life better.
aw, Iām so glad ! š«¶ x
This is exactly it!! One of my biggest problems with myself is that I don't feel confident in my own opinions. (There are so many opinions being shouted into the void, after all.) Something I started doing was going on Pinterest and just pinning things that I liked. Clothes, home decor, etc. It has been the tiniest way to get to know myself and what I like. You're so right, confidence is knowing what you like. Thank you for putting this into words!
I do that too ! Giving your style funny names is something Iāve found fun. I have a board called āearthy mamaā for all the hippy clothes Iād be wearing if I didnāt work in corporate š¤£ā¤ļø
iām currently writing a book and reading this conceptual piece about defining oneās artistic likes and dislikes helped me find the line between what I want to create and what I think others could want me to create āļø
thank you for putting your ideas into words and Iām excited to read the next.
Ah Iām so glad Sarah. Good luck for the rest of your book šš©µ
Love this so much. The more we lean into our own quirks and tastes, the more we give permission to ourselves first to be authentic, and then others too. No brainer. āŗļø
Yes ! Itās literally contagious š©µ
i can relate to so much of this, and itās so beautifully said and written. cannot wait to read more of your wonderful work.
Thank you so much !š©µ
Let it be knownšš¾
Thank you for sharing this perspective. I so appreciate the reminder that confidence has more to do with our inner alignment than anything ā and discernment is so key to building our inner world, our self-trust. Made me think too, of the concept of Strongest Sense in Human Design. For people with Outer Vision Strongest Sense, beauty isnāt frivolous, itās literally the way we take in the world. Weāre here to make life beautiful āØ and there is so much worth in that.
I had never heard of Strongest Sense in Human Design - thanks for sharing š definitely going to look into it more x
I love everything about this! I deleted Instagram and tik tok a few months ago and I love just sitting with my thoughts, figuring out what I like! Itās much more fulfilling than being told what we should and shouldnāt gravitate towards.
Thatās a huge step. Isnāt it lovely š„¹
This became one of my favorites here. As a person who donāt know what I want, I often search for people who I can be, and itās honestly draining because I felt like I am no longer myself, I just search for people.
This made me realize that itās okay that I like the things that I like. I used to please people by mirroring what they want in life and itās detaching me for who I really am.
Thank you for this!
I definitely can relate to that in a past version of myself. Itās tough. Iām glad you enjoyed the read. Thank you ! x