Scribed In Light

Helen Mirren once said: “Before you engage with someone, ask yourself, is that person even mentally mature enough to grasp the concept of a different perspective? Because if not, there’s absolutely no point.”

And honestly? She nailed it. Because sometimes engaging with someone who refuses to understand is like yelling at your Wi-Fi router when it’s down—it makes you feel better for five seconds, but it’s still not gonna connect.

The Trap We Fall Into

I grew up around arguing parents—the kind of toxic, heartbreaking abuse that doesn’t just echo in a house, it seeps into your bones. so I know what constant conflict feels like. It drains the room, the people, and the spirit.

The problem is, some people don’t actually want a conversation. They’re not listening—they’re reloading to respond. You could be baring your soul, and they’re just waiting for their turn to pounce like a cat that’s been staring at the laser pointer too long.

Many people don’t even wait that long—they’ll cut you off before you can fully express what you’re trying to say, twist it into something you didn’t mean, and run with it in a whole different direction. The chaos of that can be downright maddening, you never even got your full thought into the air before it got hijacked. That’s discouraging—not just because of the chaos, but because you realize you weren’t even respected enough to finish your point.

Sometimes it’s not even an argument, just a casual conversation that they jump in and cut off. It’s like they skimmed half the ingredient list and sprinted off to bake biscuits, when the full recipe clearly showed you were making a soufflé.

What happens then? They leave… clueless to your full expression, while we leave feeling unsettled. Not just unsettled— but sometimes, worked into a full-on lather over their actions…and let me tell you something. That saying ‘Actions speak louder than words’…There’s truth to be found in there my friends.

Protecting Your Peace

Here’s the kicker: sometimes silence is the most mature choice there is. Why? Because your energy is expensive—stop handing out free samples to people who aren’t even hungry.

Before you get pulled into another exhausting round of ‘let me try to express myself, fully, just one more time,’ stop and ask yourself: Is this worth my time, my peace, or my sanity? Is this someone who disrespects you on a constant? You may find it best to protect your energy. It may be wiser to reset yourself with a deep cleansing breath, and walk away. Because here’s the truth: when someone disrespects you, it reveals who they are, and where you sit within their priorities—it does not define you.

Instead, I take a dramatic deep breath (the kind that says, “I’m about to ascend into the Heavens”) and walk away. Maybe I pray. Maybe I take some alone time to reset. Maybe I just whisper to myself, “Not my circus, not my monkeys,” and let the dog tilt her head at me like she’s questioning all my life choices. Because honestly? It feels way better than wasting my oxygen arguing with someone who doesn’t return respect and isn’t even tuned to the same frequency.

So here’s my move now: I don’t step up to that plate anymore. In fact, I don’t even show up to the ballpark. Sometimes… the best mic drop isn’t what you say—it’s what you don’t.

At the end of the day, not every engagement deserves your energy. Guard your peace like it’s the last cookie in the jar, because some things are simply better left unsaid. As Proverbs 17:28 reminds us: ‘Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent.’

Let them stew in their own chaos. You? You’ve got better things to do—like finishing that cookie in peace.

So, as you guard your peace this week, remember: not every battle deserves your sword, and not every voice deserves your reply. Protect your peace like it’s holy ground, because it is. Growth doesn’t always roar; sometimes it whispers, ‘You don’t need to prove yourself here.’ Take that deep breath, let go, and choose sanity—because honestly, that’s where the real awakening begins…and hey, sanity looks a lot better on you than chronically banging your head against a brick wall.

Let’s keep growing together in grace, one choice at a time.

Tina N. Campbell | Scribed In Light