Stop Playing Nice: The Pep Talk You Didn’t Ask For (But totally need)
Chaos giveth, and chaos taketh away
This morning, I woke up to the blink-and-you-missed-it TikTok ban chaos. The Gemini in me was thrilled. Fresh faces! New energy! Oh, the chaos, oh, the drama. I had my popcorn in hand, wide-eyed and ready for the entertainment.
And then? Instant karma.
Turns out, the company that owns TikTok also owns CapCut—my favorite editing app. Facepalm. Chaos giveth, and chaos taketh away.
Still, it got me thinking about the disruption happening right now on Instagram. The usual content lanes are being shaken up by TikTok refugees bringing their we-don’t-know-the-rules-here vibes, like the new kids at school.
It’s giving delightful rebellion.
And that rebellion feels timely, because my inbox has been full lately, with the fires in Los Angeles and everything happening in the world at large, especially in the US — it’s overflowing with people wondering if, how, and where their real feelings might fit into the shiny little Instagram boxes they’ve built for themselves.
Listen, the IG content lanes are being shaken up and I, for one, welcome our new chaos overlords. Even though the TT app is back (for the moment), I guarantee those creators will be looking for a backup plan—and that’s a bonus for us IG shut-ins.
Why? Because these TikTok transplants bring fresh energy. They’re not bound by the same polished, overly curated “aesthetic rules” that have dominated Instagram, making new creators terrified to just jump-in. They’ll shake up the algorithm with unhinged creativity, no-filter vibes, and content that feels more alive. Take that Zuck.
And you know what that means for us? Permission to do the same. To let go of the “rules” and just show up, even if it’s messy, chaotic, or (gasp) not on-brand.
What My Inbox Sounds Like Right Now:
“Can I post something off-brand?”
“What if this doesn’t resonate with my audience?”
“Is it okay to disrupt the aesthetic I’ve worked so hard to build?”
“How do I make this messy realness ‘on-brand’?”
Here’s the answer you might not love (yet): Stop worrying about being likable.
Being likable is cute, but being uncontainable is iconic. Choose accordingly.
Or, let me say it in Gemini: Stop tiptoeing around, terrified to knock over a metaphorical teacup, and start shaking the damn table.
The Pep Talk You Didn’t Ask For (But Definitely Need)
You are not here to play nice. You’re here to make waves.
You are not a rule follower. You’re a change-maker.
You don’t care how it’s always been done—you care about what it could be.
And yes, that will rub people the wrong way. Let it.
Those people? They are not your people. They’re not on your level. Let me repeat that for the people in the back: They. Are. Not. On. Your. Level.
Stop squeezing yourself into their comfort zones.
Stop being adherent to their lack of imagination.
Stop minimizing yourself to make them comfortable.
You’re too big, too bold, and too brilliant for that.
The Flip Side of Being Uncontainable
Here’s the thing about stepping into your uncontainable era: It’s not for the faint of heart.
But it’s also the only way to find your people—the visionaries, the disruptors, the no-holds-barred creators who are out there waiting for you.
But you’ll never find them unless you’re willing to be disliked. Unless you’re willing to be seen.
That means:
✨ Sharing your ideas even when it feels like no one’s listening.
✨ Deciding you don’t need an invitation—you’ll just pull up your own damn seat.
✨ Stopping the overthinking. (Yes, I see you. You’re overthinking right now.)
The world doesn’t need more polished sameness. It needs you. The uncontained version of you.
Maybe You Just Need a Bigger Sandbox
Let’s be real: Maybe it’s not you. Maybe it’s the tiny little box you’ve been trying to fit yourself into.
Maybe you just need a bigger sandbox to play in. One with more room for your ideas, your quirks, your brilliance.
Stepping out of “likable” and into “uncontainable” is messy, loud, and seismic. But it’s also freeing. It’s yours.
You are not here to fit into someone else’s rules. You are here to create, disrupt, and raise the bar—your bar.
Welcome New Kids On the Block
Let the TikTok chaos remind you of something important: The rules are made up. The boxes are imaginary. The game? It was never designed for people like you to win. So why play?
Your challenge this week: Be uncontainable. Shake up the room. Break the rules.
Your people are out there waiting—but they’ll never see you if you’re busy fitting into someone else’s box. And you know I’d never gatekeep this from you.
So, tell me: What’s the rule you’re breaking this week? Drop it in the comments—I’ll heart it & thanks for always sharing with your besties.