Protecting your energy when you share

Lesson three. Protecting your energy when you share. Stay grounded, with values of your own, when you share and face criticism, comparison, or silence. Sharing brings reactions: praise, criticism, comparison, or silence. Without something steady to stand on, those reactions start deciding what you say. That steady ground is your sharing values: what you share and why, what stays private, how you treat reactions, and when you rest. A value is something you choose, not a rule you obey, so it holds. Remember: criticism tells you about the critic, and silence doesn't mean no one is listening. Why it matters. Values you chose while calm keep your voice yours when the reactions come. For example. Value: I share what helps, not what impresses. In practice: I check comments once a day, not every hour. Or: Value: my family's stories are theirs to tell. In practice: family stays private; work lessons are shared. Where this leads. It closes stage 9: you're protected, and ready to share. Hold on to this. Not every comment deserves your energy. Criticism tells you about the critic. Silence doesn't mean no one is listening.