How do I know if I'm being treated unfairly at work because of favoritism?

Favoritism at work is rarely announced. It hides in patterns: who gets the interesting projects, whose mistakes are overlooked, whose ideas suddenly become 'team ideas' when leadership repeats them. You notice it in your gut first—that small ache when someone less qualified gets promoted, or when you see the same person always invited to the lunch that matters. Rabia al-Adawiyya knew about being on the outside. She loved without expecting return, without transaction. That doesn't mean you should accept unfair treatment—it means you can see it clearly without letting bitterness be the only truth. Start documenting: who reports to whom, who gets mentorship, whose feedback is actually heard. Look for patterns over weeks, not single incidents. Talk to trusted colleagues quietly—not to gossip, but to reality-check. Sometimes what feels personal is systemic. Sometimes it's both. The hardest part isn't naming it. It's deciding what you do next: speak up, build your own path, find a better environment. That's not about loving less or belonging less. It's about belonging to yourself first.