The Consequences of Truth

There's a part of all of us that we hide from the world. Some parts we're aware that we hide, and some are so far buried that we don't even know what we're hiding anymore. During my own growth as a person, a soul, a coach, and a teacher, I have come face to face with more of my "stuff" in the year 2009 tha
I have in my whole life. It's been amazing what I've uncovered, but I tell ya - it's not always been a "roses and rainbows" process.

During the last few weeks of 2009, I started to feel more and more like it's become more painful to hide and repress who I am and how I feel than to express it. When I first started to feel this way, it came with a nice hot side dish of attitude: Hey buddy, if you don't like me *blank* you! Now, of course I realized that I didn't want to stay there, but I still sensed there was something healthy on the horizon. After a lifetime of seeking approval, I finally felt little need for it. I had a confidence and a love for myself that I had never had before.

I look around and notice how hard this can be for most of us. We really do live in a society that does not celebrate truth - in fact we celebrate the illusion most of the time. Sure, things are evolving little by little, but at this point in history there is still more of the b.s. out there than the real deal.

I've noticed in my commitment to truth that it is incredibly freeing to say exactly how I feel while trying to express myself in a healthy and loving way. However, I still notice that it can make people uncomfortable and sometimes trigger their own "stuff" to come up to the surface. I think it's why many of us prefer to not rock the boat rather than say no, express anger, set boundaries or limits, or simply state our own truth. On some level, it must mean that we value the approval from others more than from ourselves.

Remember what they say on the plane? "Put your own oxygen mask on first?" If we go through life trying not to say something wrong, hurt someone's feelings, make someone angry with us, or say no to a person or situation that we know in our bones is not serving us anymore - we exhaust ourselves. When we do what is best for us first, stay true to who we are, and love ourselves - then we can show up in the world in an authentic and loving way. People in your life will trust you even more because they know that if you didn't want to be there you wouldn't, and if don't like it you'll say so.

In starting off a new year, or even a new day, it's important to remember that if you don't take care for yourself and take care of others first, someone is getting the short end of the stick. This is about valuing ourselves and letting the world know that we're valuable - and setting that shining example for others. The truth is, yes - someone may get upset with you if you say how you feel. Someone may not like it when you put up a boundary. Someone might kick and scream if you say "no, I'm tired - you'll have to make your own dinner tonight". That is true.

Is it worth it? Will that make everyone happier if you say yes, while seething and screaming on the inside? If you think your thoughts are not landing somewhere, think again. If you stay true to yourself and you feel good, you feel free, you feel valuable - what will you be sending out then? Trust me on this: the world needs your honesty and love more than your politeness and repressed anger.

Think about it! Right now, even today as you read this, an opportunity will come for you to practice this. If we want to live in a world that values truth, it starts with you and me. Go on and tell 'em how you feel. It'll get easier the more you do it - I promise! Let your truth and light shine for all to see today, even if it comes with a hot steaming side dish of a little attitude from time to time. It's okay - we can handle it.