3–2–1 Design  ·  Issue 94
3-2-1 Design Issue 94 — Internal Weather
By David Macphee  :  May 16, 2026

Internal Weather

The weather has turned again here.
Windy in the morning.
Warm or rain by lunch.
A raincoat on the chair all day because you are never quite sure which version of the afternoon is coming.
Work can feel a bit like that as well.

3 Thoughts From Me

I.
Stress does not always arrive loudly. Sometimes it looks like replying too quickly. Or checking something three times before sending it. Or feeling tired after small decisions. You can carry tension for long enough that it starts to feel normal.
II.
There are periods where you slowly shape yourself around what keeps things calm for everyone else. You avoid difficult conversations. You soften parts of yourself. You become easier to manage. After a while, it can feel strangely lonely being so well adjusted.
III.
Some days you wake up feeling capable. By mid afternoon you are questioning everything again. Nothing obvious has happened in between. The mind can change weather very quickly. And it is difficult to explain that to people who only see you in one forecast.

2 Quotes From Others

I.
On pressure
“You do not have to carry the weight of the world to prove you can lift it.”
— Unknown
(Conversation, unknown year) You probably already carry more than most people can see.
II.
On uncertainty
“Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart.”
— Rainer Maria Rilke
(Letters, 1903) Some parts of your life may still be changing shape quietly in the background.

1 Question For You

What part of your life has felt emotionally changeable lately?
With thanks,
David
P.S. Not every unsettled season needs fixing straight away.
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Originally posted on LinkedIn