“Thoughts can only hurt you with your permission, feelings can only wound you with your consent, experiences can only damage you with your authorization; life can only ruin you with your approval.”

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Meaning

This reads as an argument that suffering grows when we hand it authority. It suggests that thoughts, feelings, and even hard experiences become destructive when we let them govern us, which lands in moments of anxiety or self-blame, when the needed shift is less about stopping pain than refusing to obey it.

When It Was Said

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Source

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Original Language & Translation

Originally said in English.

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About Matshona Dhliwayo

Matshona Dhliwayo is a Zimbabwean writer and poet. Their work explores themes of identity, colonialism, and the African experience, blending poetic language with sharp social commentary. Known for their evocative and often provocative verse, they challenge conventional narratives about African literature.

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