While I’ve always been a truth-seeker, being a truth-teller has never been a strength of mine. I’ve been too afraid.
Afraid of causing pain to another.
Afraid of judgment.
Afraid of rejection.
In our desire to maintain our relationships and to avoid confronting our worst fears we hold back.
We loose track of our truth.
In order to move through fear we have to be willing.
Be willing to let them go.
Be willing to be judged.
Be willing to be rejected.
A heart-stopping, throat clenching fear may bubble up. Speak the truth anyway.
Love requires vulnerability. Love requests courage.
Honesty can be uncomfortable, but deep connection and authentic vulnerability requires truth. Not just easy truths like, I felt hurt when you said that thing you said. But the complex, sometimes dark and desirous, truths too – our deepest longings, shadowy desires, raw fears, secret fantasies, and fiery passions.
Let them see you.
This is all of me … the bright corners of my heart and the dark edges of my soul. I don’t know what will happen when you see who I truly am, but I’m willing to risk it because I need you to know the truth. I will only be truly seen, loved, and known if I have the courage to be honest.
Your fears will be there, but you get to choose whether you let your fears filter your truth.
Resist the urge to soften your fears by tempering your truth.
Lost truth leads to closed hearts. And, it’s difficult for love to find its way into a closed heart.
You may be abandoned.
You may be rejected.
You may be judged.
They may be hurt.
Or maybe not.
Either way, you will make it through.
Brave vulnerability and compassionate truth are the gatekeepers to pure love.
Pure love is worth the risk.
Photo credit : Kelly Hofer captured the radiance.