A Definition of Self-Cruelty Self-cruelty is abandoning yourself to keep other people comfortable. It is staying silent when your heart is screaming to be heard and ignoring your own needs as if they matter less than everyone else's. Self-cruelty is holding yourself hostage for past mistakes, replaying old chapters and punishing yourself for things you can no longer change. It is refusing to offer yourself the same grace you so freely give to others. Self-cruelty is overextending yourself until there is nothing left to give, believing your worth is measured by how much you sacrifice. It is carrying responsibilities that were never yours and calling exhaustion strength. And sometimes, self-cruelty is loving where you are not loved, pouring your heart into places that leave it empty, and convincing yourself that breadcrumbs are enough when what you deserve is a seat at the table.