I’m not tall. Ever since I was a child, people would comment on my height. “You haven’t grown,” they’d say. No matter how well I did in school or how intelligent I was, all they saw was my height. That constant judgment made me lose confidence. I worried all the time. And yet, the people who made those comments always seemed happy and unbothered.

I’ve always been sincere and honest in my work. But still, I was once blamed for a mistake I didn’t make—framed by others. Being held responsible made me anxious and withdrawn. I started isolating myself, focusing only on my work, while those who caused the problem were out enjoying parties and social events. I was left alone. And this isn’t just one incident—I’ve experienced this pattern many times. The ones who hurt others walk away carefree, while the ones who are hurt are left carrying the pain.

If taking someone’s life is a punishable crime, then why isn’t hurting someone’s feelings treated the same way? People may not realize how much damage their words and actions cause. They insult, mock, and spread false stories, and then go on living their lives like nothing happened. But the person they hurt suffers in silence, sometimes for life. Can you relate?

When a crime happens, the offender is arrested—not the victim. But in real life, it often feels like the opposite. The one who is hurt ends up feeling guilty, isolated, and ashamed. Isn’t that backwards? Shouldn’t the one who caused the harm feel regret and be held accountable? Instead, why are you inside the prison?

What would freedom look like if you chose to step out of that emotional “prison”?