About this quote

Most of us pretend to have limits so others won't ask for more. That smallness keeps you safe for a moment, but it also cuts off help and real connection. Notice where you fold up your feelings, then name one emotion and tell a person about it. Do that for a week and you'll see you can carry more care, grief, and joy than you gave yourself credit for.

When to use it

• Holding my newborn at 3 a.m., I saved that line in my phone so I could stop telling myself I didn't have enough love.
• On my last day at the office I told a colleague, 'I didn't expect to care this much about this team,' and I thought of this quote when I couldn't explain it.
• After the breakup I said to a friend, 'I thought I was done, but I'm still feeling a lot,' and I reread the line to stop apologizing for that.
• After volunteering at the shelter for a week, I told the director I wanted to give monthly support — I kept this quote in my head before committing.