Hello friend
In a perfect world all our days would be rainbows and sunshine. We would be able to be authentic, without fear of what that would mean for us. The truth is some days are harder than others. There was a time in my life where I would live in a fantasy world. I would act like everything in my life was fantastic. If someone asked me how I was doing, the response would always be, “good”. In fact “good” was my standard response to that question or the question “how do you feel”? I not only lied to others, I lied to myself.
Denying My Feelings
I didn’t always want to feel the emotions that were bubbling up inside of me. Sometimes the feelings hurt, sometimes they also caused me physical pain, and sometimes my heart hurt so deeply that I welcomed physical pain to override the emotional pain. My insecurities screamed at me to not be vulnerable, after all that would just cause me to feel more pain. I feared rejection and I feared being alone.
My Fears — Came True
The fact of the matter is what I feared most is what occurred as I hid behind the masks of “good”. These masks prevented me from establishing healthy, supporting and authentic relationships and in the end I felt rejected and alone.
Permission To Be Authentic
I have learned that I need to give myself permission to feel my feelings. It’s ok to be happy, just as much as it’s ok to be sad. It’s ok to feel tired just as much as it’s ok to feel refreshed. Too often I think we live behind masks that everything is “good”, when in fact we are falling apart.
Can you imagine a world where everyone was authentic? Where we didn’t hide behind the various masks that we tend to wear? Wouldn’t it be healthier if we gave ourselves permission to be vulnerable? Where its ok to not always be ok? Where we don’t prey on the weak, but we surround them with love? Can you see how freeing it would be to not wear the “everything is good” mask? Where we don’t believe that we have to live in our shame and guilt and disappointments? Where forgiveness is freely given and freely accepted. What difference would it make in your life if love abounds?
Choosing To Be Authentic
It may look like that would be impossible but maybe it is possible. One spark lights a fire. The same thing can happen in life. One person choosing to love can impact others to choose to love. One person who chooses to be real – authentic, gives others the courage to follow and do the same.
Today I give myself permission to feel. Today I choose to be authentic. What do you choose?
Be Blessed 💞💞💞💞
Check out more of my posts concerning mental health
How to Express Feelings and How Not to
Shelly, reading this blessed me and has opened my eyes, and spoke right to me. My normal response is “good” even when I’m not. I always think I need to be strong, and not to show weakness or sadness or anything else because after all everyone has their own problems, don’t they..? What a lie I have been living. Thank you for being authentic and vaulnerable, I also want to be authentic and today I choose to say, I’m not good, I’m tired and sore an have had a couple rough days & that is okay 🙂
Shelley, I appreciate your honesty. I’ve been struggling with the pressure of feeling like I’m supposed to have it together. I think things like “since I’m healed by his stripes I’m doing everything wrong because I still hurt. “
I welcomed my diagnosis because it Justified my anxieties and shortcomings. But my emotional and mental turmoil ends up building the physical pain.
I recently shared aloud what i have been go through and the support was overwhelming.
I thank you so much for sharing because I too often believe it’s not ok to feel this way.
Hugs to you. So glad that you had the courage to share your authentic self. Sometimes God doesn’t answer our prayers they way we want. I often have to remind myself that His ways are not my ways and I need to surrender. Thank you for your honesty too — I know that I am not alone.