Let the Invisible Audience Fade

Raised in a strict and serious East Asian family, every action was met with high expectations. Praise was rare, and attention often fell on what was still lacking. Over time, this created a tendency toward guilt when expectations were not met. Casual or unintended remarks from others could easily turn into inner conflict, and responsibilities that did not belong would often be taken on as personal blame.

In adulthood, this pattern manifested as over-shouldering burdens, carrying the weight of others’ emotions, and repeating the cycle of overexertion, exhaustion, and self-reproach. At moments of setback or disapproval, an inner voice would arise: “Still not enough.” Self-scrutiny became constant.

With age, however, came a new recognition: many others also carry an unseen “audience” within their lives—an inner presence that emerges during moments of vulnerability, criticizing and condemning. When its image was imagined again and again, it revealed only a single seat.

That realization made clear that the audience was nothing more than a projection of the mind itself. Its presence serves as a reminder: only by letting go of harsh judgment can space be created for a gentler, freer self to emerge.