Leveling Up
By Nyles Pollonais
“Damn, bitch, you should’ve put some churches on your earrings or something. Ain’t nobody know you was saved now…”
When you level up…
When you do better…
When you transform…
Ultimately, when you change, it’s not often that you make an announcement about it. You’ve probably done some thinking, crying, sweating, and bleeding about the idea before making the change. You also probably decided it was best to keep it to yourself and to keep moving forward. That’s great and all, but what do you do when folks don’t get it?
Reflecting on a few conversations with people close to me, I’m recognizing some don’t get it.
“Now that you’re vegan do you feel holier than thou?”
“Well, I guess this school thing wasn’t about arrogance, huh?”
“Don’t start acting brand new now…”
All three quotes come from real conversations with well-intentioned individuals who just weren’t there to notice the changes when they happened. Everyone carries a separate image of you based on the last impression you made. We talk about first impressions and owning your narrative, but in another piece I’ll go into the lasting impression. The one that sticks around even after the first and changes upon every interaction.
It is not their responsibility to know you’ve changed. It’s your responsibility to move differently and not get too upset when folks respond to you as you’ve allowed them to in the past.
Your reputation is all that you have in this world, and as Robert Greene says in the 48 Laws of Power, it’s important you guard it with your life. Leveling up requires conflict when you are put in a box you’ve out-grown. Sometimes, it’s easy to simply open the top and to demonstrate you no longer fit. Other times, you have to punch a hole in the cardboard and cut some tape to make the point clear. Either way, it’s your responsibility to exit.
When people don’t get it, it simply means they are not privy to the inner circle you’ve drawn for yourself. These may be old friends, cousins, acquaintances, but every once in a while you’ve got to let some folks know. Level up with pride. Teach along the way to those who would like to level up in their own respects. Be unapologetically you.
Meet the Writer
Nyles Pollonais graduated from The University of Michigan in 2021 with a Masters of Arts in Design and Technology for Learning. He is a writer, entrepreneur, musician, and future educator who spends most of his time focusing on content creation and current events. He is currently developing his digital presence and writing for his first EP titled “First” due May 2022.
