When you want to be understood (and a photo challenge)

I sometimes enjoy participating in Instagram or Facebook challenges when you post a certain number of pictures with a given theme for a certain amount of time. Right now, I’m trying to do two: the #SweetNovember campaign and the #GratefulNovember campaign. Let me tell you, posting two prompts a day is fun and stressful!

A recent seven-day challenge I completed (well, sorta) proved something about myself that I’m not sure I like. The challenge was to post a black and white photo each day that represents part of your everyday life. No people and you weren’t allowed to explain anything. I took it a step further by not including my pets (cats and dogs are people too, right?)

I say I sorta completed it because I forgot to do day 7 and I ignored the instructions about nominating someone to do the challenge with me after the first day.
Here are the pictures I shared:

Day 2/7 of black & white photos that reflect everyday life. No explanation or people.

A post shared by Jamie Smith (@sunthruthorns) on

3/7 Seven days of black/white photos that reflect daily life. No explanation or people.

A post shared by Jamie Smith (@sunthruthorns) on

Day 4/7 of 7 days of BW photos that reflect my daily life. No people or explanations.

A post shared by Jamie Smith (@sunthruthorns) on

Day 5/7 of BW photos of daily life. No people or explanations.

A post shared by Jamie Smith (@sunthruthorns) on

6/7 black and white photos. No people no explanation. All that reflect daily life.

A post shared by Jamie Smith (@sunthruthorns) on


As you can see, I followed the rules about not explaining anything. It drove me crazy! It reiterated something about myself that I’m not sure I like. I always feel like I need to be understood and that I must explain myself to people. That’s simply not healthy.
Sure, clear communication is vital, but I recognize that my need to be understood can be a detriment. So, how do I manage this? In my personal leadership training, I learned to use my soft spots to my advantage but also to curb them where necessary.
Something I’m learning is when to explain myself and when to accept that some people will get me and others will not, no matter what I explain. Once I get over the panicky feeling that brings, it actually provides some peace.

1 comment / Add your comment below

  1. Love that line: “…some people will get me and others will not, no matter what I explain.”

    I couldn’t even complete the challenge. Totally forgot about it after the first.

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