Being honest and open

I have been thinking about the truth for the last few weeks.

My intention in my writing has consistently been to be transparent and openly discuss my experiences, including my upbringing with an alcoholic parent, experiences with bullying, and most recently, being terminated from my job a year ago and consequently being unemployed.

Recently, my writing has attracted a wider audience since I began writing more frequently and sharing my work in various platforms. Certain readers have commended me for my courage in addressing these topics. It continues to intrigue me to receive praise for being courageous, when all I am doing is honestly sharing the realities of my life.

It made me question why being oneself is perceived as an act of bravery. It shouldn't require courage to be authentic. Although I am aware of this, I still find myself pausing before sharing my writing. Concerns about others' reactions and the reception of my thoughts and opinions have often troubled me.

Considering the perspective of others and being apprehensive about criticism is a common reaction, given that humans are inherently social creatures who thrive in communal settings. Nevertheless, in today's interconnected society, particularly with the rise of social media, our words and interactions can be swiftly devalued with just a single click.

It shouldn't matter what others think as long as you are content with yourself. I am realizing that my concerns about others' opinions of me or my words were never truly about their thoughts, but rather stemmed from my fear of inadequacy.

In my opinion, the perceived courage in me stems from my willingness to openly express my thoughts and emotions, despite the imperfections in my life. While it would be simpler to only share positive experiences, I consciously choose to speak up even during challenging times.

However, no one should be forced to wear a mask or put on a facade. Most people experience both good and bad times - I have not met anyone who has not encountered difficulties. From what I have seen, being truthful can be very freeing, even though it may be challenging.

The reason I write is to express myself. The only requirement to take the next step and share these writings with the public is to feel at ease with my own identity. While I am still in the process of achieving this, I aim to become increasingly comfortable with myself and confidently reveal my true self to the world without any apprehension.