Not My Circus, Not My Monkeys

A Polish proverb can shed light on us as we struggle with nonsense.

Every time you feel yourself being pulled into other people’s nonsense, repeat these words: Not my circus, not my monkeys.

Ultimate Motivation

This proverb carries both humor and deep meaning.
It holds a powerful message about maintaining emotional distance and staying grounded without being dragged into other people’s chaos.

Life is a bit like a circus. Colorful, noisy, showy…
But also messy, chaotic, and exhausting.
Everyone has their own stage, their own performance, their own clown, lion, and tightrope walker.
And every day in this circus, we find ourselves wandering through the dramas, problems, and conflicts of others.

That’s exactly why this old Polish proverb gives us such a strong reminder.
This phrase acts like a mental shield against meaningless arguments, endless complaints, repetitive relationship patterns, and the problems others refuse to solve—yet try to hand over to us.

Every time you feel yourself being pulled into other people’s nonsense…

Because so often, we forget to live our own lives.
We get caught up in other people’s problems, their drama, and things we simply can’t control.
While trying to help, we drain our own energy and lose our focus.
But not every problem is ours to solve.

This saying reminds us:
You don’t have to answer every call.
You don’t have to join every chaos.

Saying “Not my circus” isn’t about being indifferent.
On the contrary—it’s about protecting your emotional boundaries.
And “Not my monkeys” doesn’t mean you don’t care—it means you make a conscious choice about what you get involved in.

This phrase can especially empower you when:
– You’re being dragged into gossip.
– Pointless arguments are about to start.
– Someone tries to hold you responsible for their uncontrolled emotions.
– You’re being pulled into chaos through manipulation or guilt.

In those moments, whisper to yourself: