Old Happy: "I'm the only one who is struggling." New Happy: "We are all just trying to find our way."

Every week, I run a check-in on Instagram with the members of our community. You share what you're feeling and what you’re going through: 'I am struggling to let go,' 'I am heartbroken,' 'I feel lonely,' or 'I'm lost.' And when I reshare your stories, without fail, I get many messages that all say the same thing: "I read this, and now I don't feel so alone anymore."

It's so easy to forget, and so important to remember: you only have visibility into your insides and everyone else’s outsides. You don’t see everyone else’s ups and downs, witness their challenges and struggles, or experience their fear and uncertainty.

This visibility trap can leave you with the mistaken perception that you are the only one who is having a hard time. Everyone else seems fine on the outside, but let me tell you what I see from my unique vantage point: we're all going through something — navigating our difficulties, coping with fear and confusion and pain and loneliness, and trying our best to figure life out day-by-day.

The next time you feel yourself caught in the visibility trap, use this phrase: "I may not be able to see it, but I am sure that I'm not alone."

It's a little gesture of compassion for yourself and others—one that can make all the difference.