Caring Is Losing

Some say this is how a child gets broken. She discovers that no matter how hard she tries, she can’t get what she wants. She learns there’s no one in charge—not even family. She finds no understanding, no real help—only games being played. She’s wronged, yet somehow she’s always the one at fault.

So she finally gives up, or rather, just lies flat and lets it all go. Life isn’t worth the effort.

The breakdown comes from external harm that’s too intense, and a loneliness within that’s too heavy.

Those are the things families should watch for. Here’s what individuals should keep in mind.

Why would someone think this way? At its core, it’s because the world doesn’t match your expectations—or maybe you’re just craving some positive feedback, even a little of it. That craving is called the need for validation.

You want to be accepted too badly. Seeking approval is essentially an obsession. Once you care, you’ve already lost.

You shouldn’t have expectations of your environment. Your only standard should be yourself.

Not needing validation is a double-edged sword: without sadness, there’s no joy either. If someone slanders you, you’ll brush it off. If someone validates you, you’ll do the exact same thing.

But further down the road, that emotional detachment can protect you from being scammed or swept up by market sentiment.