What happens when your life glitches and you experience something that throws you into a completely different mindset?

My story is every mother’s story but uniquely individual to each mother. When you carry the weight of your imperfections and see the effects it has on your children, you feel broken inside.

Every mother wants to believe they have and still are doing their best with their children, whether they are young or adults. We find ourselves bearing the burden for bringing them into this world only to find out they aren’t very happy being here.

I use this example because I am a mother two times and a godmother four times. I carry what I call “Mommy Weight.” Mothers aren’t delusional to think we are perfect. But even in that space of awareness, underneath all that mothering, we want to think we are perfect.

I share this example because it’s one that I feel gives me the most experience with glitches.

Often we don’t have the readiness to deal with life glitches, so when we do experience them, they hurt! They aren’t what we anticipate from all the work we put into developing ourselves for others!

“Glitches” are sudden, unexpected disruptions in our mental and emotional balance, triggered by encounters with unexpected truths or perceptions about ourselves that are revealed by others whose opinions we value highly. These disruptions compel us to confront and integrate parts of our identity that we typically keep hidden or unexamined.

When someone shares a perspective on us—whether it’s deeply hurtful or surprisingly kind—it can have a profound impact, especially if it’s negative. The reason negative feedback often weighs heavily on us is due to its capacity to penetrate our defenses, requiring us to have “thick skin” or to “hold our chin up.” However, we may not always feel strong enough to bear the weight of this negativity.

Living under the assumption that we fully control others’ perceptions of us, or that we can maintain complete privacy over certain aspects of our lives, is ludicrous. We are forced to face aspect of ourselves when it becomes evident that we are not as hidden as we thought. These glitches challenge our self-image and push us to reevaluate how we see ourselves and how we are seen by others.

Through this transformative process, glitches act as catalysts for deep self-reflection and adaptation, leading us to confront and reconcile with our hidden selves, and ultimately aiding in our psychological growth and resilience.

When was the last time your life glitched?

Share in the comments!