There were times in my life when frustration and overwhelm hit so hard that I felt like I couldn’t keep going. I was facing false allegations. I was terrified I might lose my kids. And here’s the truth about me: if I’ve done something wrong, I’ll own it. But I refuse to carry the cross of someone else’s actions.

If I did it, I’ll admit it. If I didn’t, there’s no chance in hell I’m letting anyone convince me otherwise.

People tried that with me throughout my life — pushing me to admit to things I never did. And yes, a few times they fooled me. But once I caught on, I made a vow: no one gets to devalue me or define my worth ever again. I stopped looking for validation from people and started standing on the validation I already had from God.

This isn’t arrogance. It’s not flexing. It’s simply who I am. A kind‑hearted person who learned the hard way that kindness attracts predators just as much as it attracts good people. When people think you’re weak, naïve, or “dumb,” they take advantage. It happens more than people talk about.

But here’s what I learned: Show up as your authentic self anyway. People respect realness more than anything else.

Self‑doubt will creep in. That stinking thinking will whisper, “You’re not enough. You’re tired. You can’t do this.” That’s when you hit the gas. That’s when you push harder. Because you are worth it, and you do have the strength.

Life is a balancing act — goals, discipline, moderation, and consistency. Write your goals down. Chip away at them. And if you miss the mark, don’t quit. Adjust and try again.

My mindset came from being honest with God. He sees everything — the good, the bad, the mistakes, the moments I knew better but didn’t do better. I’ve had to repent. I’ve had to reset. And I’ve had to walk away from toxic cycles that were dragging me into insanity.

People with jealousy, envy, or hate in their hearts will throw rocks and hide their hands. They’ll lie. They’ll create stories. They’ll try to trigger you. But I see through that now. I see the masks. I see the gaslighting. I see the deception. I don’t always call it out — it’s not my job to expose everyone. My job is to protect my peace.

I used to say, “If it’s too far from my heart to kill me, it won’t hurt me.” But that’s not always true. Even subtle deception can wear you down over time. That’s why vigilance matters. That’s why the company you keep matters.

These days, I keep my circle small — almost nonexistent — and I’m okay with that. I’d rather walk alone than walk with people who want to see me fall.

My confidence comes from my relationship with God and the mindset I built through Him. I’ve had moments of complacency, moments where I thought I had it all handled, only to fall short. That’s on me. But instead of letting it dim my spirit, I learned from it. I reminded myself: I can do this. I will do this. And I will continue to succeed.

Being alone doesn’t scare me. It’s peaceful. My focus right now is my two little girls — getting them through school, giving them the best life I can. I’m not a perfect parent, but I show up. I teach accountability. I teach respect. I teach them to own their mistakes and grow from them.

We owe it to the next generation to leave this world better than we found it. That starts with respect, honesty, and working together — even when we don’t agree.

So if you ever feel like you’re not enough… If you ever feel like you can’t keep going… If you ever feel like the struggle is too heavy…

Keep showing up. You’re doing better than you think. You’re learning. You’re growing. You’re moving forward — even if it’s slow.

And forward is forward.

Keep showing up. You’re worth it. Written by. Kristofer Krumholtz