When you're honest with yourself, the healing begins

Deep down inside, you know when you’re lying to yourself. You know the difference between the relief that comes with acknowledging an inconvenient truth, and the tension that comes with holding onto a more palatable lie.

I get it, though—sometimes half-truths are easier to stomach. They roll off the tongue more easily. They can help you to ignore your flaws. You can use them to feel better about your past. You can use them pin all of your misfortunes on other people, places, or circumstances.

But half-truths will never be anything more than comfortable band-aids. They might cover up your pain, guilt, and shame—but they won’t help you to grow or heal. They won’t empower you to release the negative feelings that you’re holding on to about the darkest chapters of your story. They tie you to the moments you’re working to cover up, instead of freeing you to move on, in full.

We’ve all told ourselves half-truths that have helped us to survive our darkest seasons. And that makes sense—we are programmed to seek approval from others, and to need approval from ourselves. But applause rings hollow when it is based on a version of yourself that exists in direct contradiction with the version of yourself that you have to live with.

When you’re honest with yourself, the healing begins.