It rarely happens all at once.
The people around us still care. They still enjoy our company. They still value our judgment. But over time, we become the person who always seems to be coping. We solve problems. We remain calm when others become uncertain. We make difficult decisions and continue moving forward. Gradually, the people around us begin to see those qualities as part of who we are rather than something that requires effort.
It is a quiet compliment.
It is also a quiet assumption.
The stronger we appear, the less often people think to ask whether we are carrying something ourselves. They assume that because we have always found a way through difficult seasons, we will simply do so again.
Most of the time, we do.