There is a reason for this. And it's the same reason people lie to their doctors about how many sexual partners they've had or why they smoke or not.
We are afraid of being judged!
And who can blame us for that? The world is a place of judgment. We still haven't learned much about this big heart and unconditional love thing. We often forget that people are always doing their best with everything they have. So we judge each other and it messes with the wounds we prefer to hide.
So we stopped being honest. We are ashamed of vulnerability. We put on our armor before stepping out of the house. And some of us never take it off again.
The point is that this is a problem if we want to be better people. We cannot grow inside an armor. Our hearts don't beat when we lie. The world doesn't become a better place when we let fear play the show. I think that's pretty obvious given what's going on in the world.
I am someone committed to my personal growth. And I bet you are too. I am an eternal student, always learning and growing. But I'm particularly interested in how I can continue to develop on my own. I want my heart to continue to grow and my light to continue to shine brighter.
And so it is, and will continue to be. But for that I needed take off my armor. I had to wake up to the truth my mask was hiding. Otherwise, we are just putting off this fight. We think we are changing because we are making an effort to change, but in fact nothing is really happening.
Part of this spiritual journey is letting go of worrying about what others think about you. You have to travel within and meet your own spirit. When you are kind to yourself, fear loses its power. Your self-love trumps everything.
I have a group of amazing people in my life that I trust, who know me, and who support me on my journey. When I'm working, they're there to listen, evaluate, and reflect with me. When I am lost and in deep despair, they are there to give me love until I find my own.
The support I have had throughout my life is integral part of the woman I have become. I truly believe that we can grow through support. That's why I do tutoring work, because I've worked with teachers and tutors and I have a beautiful group of friends and family. I've allowed myself to trust others, and I've trusted myself to know who the right mentors are for me.
If you're currently afraid that the people in your life are going to judge you for one or two things, think about it: either they're judging you, or you're living in fear. The difference between the two becomes very clear when you get to know yourself and get in touch with your intuition.
If you're not sure, the best way I know of to move forward is be gentle. Find your fear, and overcome it. See how people respond to you. If you feel safe and supported, you will know that you can start to be more open and that will lead to more trusting relationships. If you feel judged, it may be time to address it and move on, otherwise nothing changes.
You know who can support you in your life. You know by the way they make you feel. If you share your vulnerability with someone, and you end up feeling worse than before, then you know that person cannot be your support. To be vulnerable, we need to feel safe.
Trust yourself when you don't feel safe.
Paying attention to this aspect is important for our own healing, otherwise we remain immobile. Living in fear hurts us, not the doctor or the therapist or the mentor. It hurts us and the ones we love.
When you feel tired of hurting yourself, it's time to take the mask off. The longer you wait, the more your light is dimmed… And remember: you are here to shine!
Text written by Amanda Magliaro Prieto of the Eu Sem Fronteiras Team.
