How Much Do We Really Know About the People Around Us?

How much do we really know about the people around us?

Probably not as much as we think. But that doesn’t stop us from making all kinds of assumptions about others, does it?

We see someone dancing on social media and instantly assume they’re happy. We spot someone traveling constantly, and naturally, they must be loaded, right? (This feels a little personal…lol) A fancy job title? Must be living the dream. And if someone’s single, we assume they’re lonely. It's wild how quickly we fill in the blanks with our own little stories. I am no different. I do it all the time. We’re all quick to judge and quick to fill in the blanks.  

But here’s the thing: what we think we know about people is usually just the tip of the iceberg. If you’ve ever sat down with someone and had a deep conversation, you know what I mean. The reality is that most of us are pretty good at curating what we show to the world. We let people see the highlights, the wins, the best moments—while keeping the struggles tucked away. And in some way, I think that’s fair. No one can be vulnerable at all the time with everyone around. We all have parts of our lives that don’t get shared on social media or come up in casual conversation. It’s survival instinct, and I don’t blame anyone for doing so. We gotta do what we gotta do!

However, it’s important to acknowledge that humans are complex-- way more than a few snapshots can capture. We can be happy in one area of life and struggling in another. Life isn’t so black and white. Most of us live in grey areas and that’s more than okay. In fact, it feels like the norm more often than not.

I have a friend who is absolutely killing it at work. They’ve got the kind of career that turns heads and makes people go, “Wow, they’ve got it all together.” But behind that success is someone who’s struggling with their love life and feeling torn between joy and frustration. Another friend? They love being a parent and find so much happiness but feel disconnected in their relationship. And yet another person close to me? Their family life is thriving, but career-wise, they’re lost and unsure of their next step.

Life is way more layered than what meets the eye. No one’s life is as perfect as it seems from the outside. You can be happy in one area and still feel lost in another. That’s the real human experience—contradictory, messy, and often unseen.

So, what do we do about this?

I think the best thing we can do is approach each other with a little more kindness. Instead of jumping to conclusions or assuming someone’s life is perfect—or a mess—based on what we see, let’s give people the space to just be. We all need a bit more compassion and room to navigate our own stuff because whether we admit it or not, we’re all carrying something heavy in one part of our lives or another.

So, let’s stop assuming and try understanding each other. And in doing so, maybe, just maybe, we can create a world where we give each other the grace to be imperfect, complicated, and human?!

Thanks for stopping by!

See you in the next blog post! 😊