Some applause isn’t support — it’s surveillance. Some people cheer as long as your shine stays below theirs. Some clap loudly, but their motives whisper something different. Closed doors aren’t rejection — they’re protection. Protection from mixed motives. Protection from fake support. Protection from people who only clap so they can keep score. Elevation exposes everything. Discernment gets sharper. And your circle gets smaller — on purpose. Because if there’s one thing I’ve learned in this sea