You teach people how to treat you.

An important realization: People don’t treat you based on who you are., they treat you based on what you tolerate.

That may sound harsh, but it’s true.

Every time you stay silent when something doesn’t sit right…

Every time you say yes when you meant no…

Every time you minimize what you need, just to keep the peace…

You’re teaching the people around you exactly how to treat you.

Not because they’re cruel.

But because you’ve shown them what’s allowed.

And the standard you enforce becomes the expectation they follow. Or, ahem, lack of a standard.

This is where quiet power begins…not in domination, but in self-respect.

Because when you respect yourself deeply and consistently, your presence shifts.

Your tone sharpens.

Your energy becomes more focused.

And people respond to that, even if they don’t know why.

Here’s your challenge this week:

Audit your boundaries.

Where are you over-explaining?

Where are you over-extending?

Where are you hoping someone will “just understand,” when you haven’t made your expectations clear?

Don’t wait to be treated better.

Lead with clarity.

Speak with calm.

Stand with consistency.

Because once you show people what you no longer tolerate, they only have two choices:

Adjust… or disappear.

Either way, you win.

-James Michael Sama

P.S.: If you’re looking for a private advisor to help you develop these qualities, let’s talk.