But Not More Than That…

Haya Akbik
2 min readJan 15, 2021
“You are more than what meets the eye”

“You are smart academically, but not more than that…”

“You are good for this position, but not more than that…”

“You are a great friend, but not more than that…”

“You have a talent with people, but not more than that…”

All those are quotes that were either said to me or to someone I know. Does it sound familiar?

I am sure a lot of you have already heard a similar phrase at one point in your life, and I am here today to tell you that I understand…

You Vs. the World

It is easy to feel that the whole world is collaborating to stand in your way. Trust me, you are not alone! It is normal to feel this way when people are putting you in certain boxes that doesn’t necessarily reflect who you actually are.

When this starts happening more often, it can make you question yourself and if you are really only limited to what others see in you! This in turn can create the feeling of “you vs. the world” as you continuously try to shake it off, or accept your fate and believe what you hear.

Are People Right Though?

No, they are not.

That’s because people only see what you allow them to see. Therefore, when someone puts you in a box and determine your capabilities, it’s often because that’s all they can see at the moment.

You are the only person who can decide what you can or you can’t do. It is easy to find excuses and very hard to get up and do whatever you want to achieve.

People like to determine your paths and future for you, but the only way for them to be successful is if you allow it. If you let others’ ideas get in your head, then YOU are the one who is standing in the way of your success.

Moving Forward

So how do you break free? Well you can start by believing in yourself…because if you don’t, then no one will.

Then, you can start looking for ways to reach your dreams and let go of the things holding you back. It is a lot more fun to prove people wrong!!

You should also keep in mind that you are not defined by others’ opinions. You will never by able to meet everyone’s expectations, but it is vital that you live up to yours.

My name is Haya Akbik, I am a 27 years old Syrian woman. I am an International Management and Psychology Master Student living in Germany, but I am way more than that, and so are you…

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Haya Akbik

International Management & Psychology Master student by day and an aspiring writer by night..