The Power of Proximity

There’s a power in proximity.

In being physically near another human being.

It can regulate, soften, and help us see each other clearly again.

Sometimes, what text can’t fix, presence can.

A real conversation.

Tone, breath, eyes meeting eyes.

It’s harder to stay defensive when someone is right in front of you—

not as an enemy, but as a person.

That’s the sacred side of proximity.

It can ground us, repair us, remind us we’re on the same team.

It can bring truth back into the room.

But there’s another side too.

A darker one.

Because proximity is also persuasive.

It can blur lines that were sharp from afar.

It can make you doubt what you know,

or cloud your logic and cause you to lead with emotion.

It can be used to calm, charm, or confuse—

to rewrite the story before the ink dries.

In healthy relationships, presence is a bridge.

In unhealthy ones, it can be a weapon.

The difference isn’t in the distance—

it’s in the intention.

Proximity heals when it’s used to connect.

It harms when it’s used to control.

Sometimes, walking into the same room can bring resolution.

Other times, staying out of it is the only way to see clearly and hold your boundaries.

And it can be the highest form of self respect.