You Don’t Have to Chase Every Story: Tuesday Morning with Lynn

By Lynn Pritchard October 20th 2026

There is freedom in realizing that you do not have to chase every story told about you.

Someone misunderstands your words, questions your intentions, or repeats something that never happened—and suddenly you are spending your quiet moments preparing explanations. You rehearse conversations while making dinner. You think of the perfect response just before falling asleep. Even when no one is asking you to defend yourself, the argument keeps going in your mind.

A quote I came across recently made me pause: “Let people misunderstand you.”

There is a lesson in those words worth sharing. How much of our peace do we spend trying to manage what other people believe?

Of course the truth matters. There are times to speak clearly, correct false information, and protect what matters to you. But once you have said what needs to be said, repeating it endlessly can leave you exhausted. Understanding requires someone willing to listen.

You cannot do both sides of that work.

Spiritually, we often talk about releasing what no longer serves us. We light the candle, write the words, set the intention. Yet afterward, we may pick the whole burden back up and carry it into the next day.

Sometimes the thing we need to release is the hope that one more explanation will finally change someone’s mind.

That takes practice. It means noticing when your thoughts return to an old conversation and gently bringing yourself back to the present. It means allowing a message to go unanswered when everything useful has already been said. It means keeping a boundary even when someone dislikes it.

Your kindness can remain intact through all of this. You can have a warm heart and still be selective about who gets your time, your trust, and your attention.

And while time may reveal the truth, you do not have to put your life on hold waiting for that moment. There is still laughter to enjoy, love to receive, and something worthwhile to do with today.

Let your character show in the way you live. Let the people who know you experience your consistency. Give yourself permission to stop rehearsing your defense.

When your mind starts that familiar argument again, take a breath and ask: What could I give this moment to instead?

Then give it to something that helps you grow.