Speak Your Truth

“Speak the truth, even if your voice shakes.”
- Maggie Kuhn

I've been an expressive person my whole life, but with that desire to express myself comes a lot of people who discourage that very same trait due to their own insecurities.

I'm reminded of someone close to me who used to look at the lengthy musings and essays I tend to write in my social media spaces and try to tear me down.

"I don't understand what you're saying," they'd say. Or, "You're too sensitive, you're too poetic, you use too many words."

In other words, I was too much for them.

Because they meant so much to me, I took their words to heart. I thought I had to make myself small in their presence, to devalue myself so they felt more secure.

These past few years, I've been reclaiming myself and the space I hold in the world. I've been learning how to overcome that fear of confrontation and being seen and my own insecurities around how I express myself. I've learned how to advocate for myself and others, and I've learned how to face conflict with compassion. Throughout this process, I've continued to honor myself--unafraid to show up as myself, for myself.

I won't be silenced.

I won't stop speaking up.

I won't stop expressing myself in the manner that feels most natural to me, even if it feels uncomfortable for others.

I will continue to grow into the best, most authentic and full version of myself.

I'm just getting started.

(This soul saying was originally published September 6, 2021 by Susan Dawn)