You didn’t lose them.

You lost control of the story you were telling yourself.

Late-December silence isn’t a verdict.
It’s a test.

People disappear around the holidays for three reasons:

Most people treat all three the same.
They chase. They explain. They double text.
They donate dignity to someone who hasn’t earned access.

Here’s the real signal:

Watch what happens right before the new year.

Because Dec 30 and Dec 31 do something to people.
It makes them audit their options.

That’s when the “just checking in” text shows up.
That’s when they watch your story.
That’s when they send a meme like nothing happened.

Not because they suddenly value you.
Because they want to know if you’re still on the shelf.

That’s why the move is simple:

Don’t react to silence.
Respond to patterns.

If they vanish, then reappear with low effort, you don’t reward it with high access.
You answer clean. You stay calm. You keep your pace.

You’re not punishing them.
You’re protecting your momentum.

that’s why i built The 90-Day Filter Playbook (25% off) to help you stop rewarding chaos and start filtering with precision

most people avoid this truth:
if you keep accepting weak returns, you train people to treat you like an option.

So here’s your filter for the next 48 hours:

If they come back with clarity and a plan - you can meet it.
If they come back with crumbs - you don’t turn it into a meal.

Silence isn’t always rejection.

But low effort after silence?

That’s the pattern.

if this hit and you want the deeper frameworks for reading intention, breaking loops, and leading from message #1, Join Signals+ (includes a 7-day free trial)

Go into the new year clean.

No chasing.
No confusion.
No mixed signals.

NoMixedSignals