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The cost of holding back your true self in relationships | IRF + Relationships

Silhouettes of people gathered outdoors during a stunning sunset, creating a captivating scene.

Have you ever caught yourself adjusting your opinions or hiding parts of yourself to fit what you think someone else wants?

That moment of hesitation when you swallow your truth might seem small. But these tiny compromises create an invisible barrier between your true self and real connection.

“Can I be me with you?”

This question sits at the heart of most meaningful relationships. When the answer is “no,’ it can lead to a deep kind of loneliness that lingers even when you’re with someone you care about.

It’s the loneliness of being physically present but emotionally hidden.

Here’s what’s fascinating: The parts of you that you’re most afraid to show are often what create true connection. Your vulnerabilities, quirks, and honest thoughts are bridges that allow others to truly know you.

When you hide these aspects of yourself, it keeps you from the deepest form of acceptance: being loved for who you really are.

What if you could show up as your whole self?

Let’s try a process to help you be more fully you in your relationships (if you want to be).

A Helpful Exercise

  • Take some time to pause… and let your awareness come into your body
  • Get in touch with some way you are feeling, right now. Sad, anxious, upset, tired… peaceful…. any feeling is welcome.
  • Say inside yourself, “I am sensing…” and then name the feeling.
  • Now bring to mind someone in your life who matters to you.
  • Imagine you are with this person, and you are aware of this feeling.
  • Ask yourself, “Is it OK to be feeling this way in the presence of this other person?” Right now, this is not about whether or how you express your feeling. It’s simply about being able to feel it, in the presence of the other person.
  • If not – if there is something in the way of feeling how you feel in the presence of the other, take some time to get curious about that. Whatever you discover, acknowledge that as well.
  • And to complete the process, thank your body.

Being fully yourself isn’t about dramatic revelations or forced openness. It’s about finding the delicate balance between taking care of yourself and allowing yourself to be truly seen.

The most profound connections in your life will come when you no longer feel the need to edit who you are. Let’s create that reality together.

On-Demand Course: Growing Closer: 21 Days to More Trust and Belonging

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