unknown depths

The black lake of our subconscious has no boundary.

Blissful ignorance escapes,

pulling deeper into the drowning void.

Our inner critic engulfs us.

Driven to avoid mistakes that seem

to carry the weight of the world,

we mold ourselves into anxiety, shame, and doubt.

Endless minutes spent calculating

potential outcomes of situations,

fueling the already spiraling hurricane

into a deeper analysis of emotions.

The mistakes, seemingly so grave,

become nothing.

The insecurity festers into apologetic repetitions,

begging pardon for strife.

A dose of compassion expressed outwardly

occurs far more than given inwardly.