There’s this vulnerable moment that not many people talk about.
It happens after the launch.
After the post.
After the brave thing you’ve done to step into a new version of yourself.
You hit “publish.” You refresh the page. You check your phone.
And… silence.
No flood of messages. No fire emojis. Not even a casual “you’re smashing it.”
Just the soft hum of your own effort echoing back at you.
That was me this week.
I relaunched my website. I reshaped my Instagram. I showed up with quiet confidence—hoping the world might notice, or at the very least, someone might say “Hey, I see you.”
But nothing really came.
And that silence? It stung a little ( I was hardly suprised, I hadn’t exactly been shouting from the rooftops)
Not because I crave attention or praise, but because when you pour your heart into something, especially after a season of struggle, you want to feel like it matters. You want to know that someone, somewhere, is on the other side of the screen, nodding along.
But here’s what I’m starting to learn:
The stillness after showing up doesn’t mean you failed.
It means you’re in the in-between.
And that’s a powerful place to be.
It’s where self-trust is built.
Where your voice gets stronger.
Where you stop performing and start becoming.
I’m learning that the validation I seek “out there” only truly lands when I give it to myself first. That building something meaningful takes time. That being seen is not the same as being valued.
So if you’ve been there, if you’re there right now, this is for you.
You’re not invisible.
You’re not behind.
And your quiet work? It counts.
Here’s what I want you to take away from this:
• Keep showing up as you are, not as who you think people want.
• Your people will find you. But they won’t until you find you first.
• Rest is not regression. Pauses are part of the process.
• Trust takes root in the quiet.
• And most of all: your story is still unfolding—and it’s already beautiful.
Tonight, I’m choosing to celebrate myself. Not with noise or numbers, but with peace, pride, and the knowing that I’m building something that feels true.
If this resonated with you, I’d love to hear from you. Let’s remind each other we’re not alone in the quiet parts.
Steffany Collette is a graphic designer, content creator, and social media manager based in Lancashire, helping creatives and soulful brands tell their stories with warmth, strategy, and style.
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