This is such an important callout. I never thought about it this way, but yes, disassociating from your feelings is basically lying to yourself. It is also a learned survival tactic. As Shakespeare famously said, "To think own self be true."
Absolutely recognizing that disassociating from our feelings is a form of self-deception is such a powerful insight. It reminds us that true growth begins with honesty toward ourselves, even when it feels uncomfortable. Like Shakespeare said, being true to oneself is both a challenge and a gift, and embracing that truth allows us to move through life with more clarity, integrity, and authenticity.
This is an amazing article, N.E: When you wrote, "I didn’t realize how radical that decision would feel until I actually tried to do it." it made me realize that telling oneself the truth is a very radical act. And it takes a lot of courage to do so, even for one day alone. Our culture is drenched in deception, and it can get under our own skin without us even realizing it is happening. I think it is very important what you did. Thank you for writing and sharing.
Thank you for such a thoughtful reflection it really captures the heart of it. Telling ourselves the truth can feel radical because it asks us to step outside the quiet layers of comfort and conditioning we’ve built over time. It takes real courage to face things as they are, even briefly, and your insight about how easily we absorb deception without noticing is so powerful. I’m really glad it resonated with you these are the kinds of honest conversations that create meaningful change.
I felt this. I have found myself hiding from my truth too, to avoid being questioned or when people close recognise that things aren’t quite right, especially at home. It’s a slippery slope to fall into to tell yourself what you feel you need to to fit other’s narratives and avoid what’s really going on. I think we could all do to be more honest with ourselves especially if that makes us feel uncomfortable, that’s usually where the change happens. really good read
Absolutely what you’ve shared resonates deeply. Hiding from our own truth to fit others’ expectations is something many of us do without realizing it, and it can quietly shape our lives in ways that feel misaligned. The courage to be honest with ourselves, even when it’s uncomfortable, is often where real growth begins. That willingness to face what’s really going on creates space for meaningful change and a life that feels more authentic.
What a beautiful piece of writing, honesty is a hard area to bring fully into your own life, as it makes you feel vulnerable, but from that vulnerability comes growth.
I am impressed that you did this for a whole month and how true that, as you highlight, that we are the narrators of our own lives and we can be so selective with edgar we choose to emphasise, Thank you a deeply interesting post (and way more that could be said than my typing speed allows for 🙂). 🌻🙏
Thank you so much for this thoughtful reflection, it really means a lot. You’re absolutely right that we’re the narrators of our own lives, and it’s fascinating how selective we can be about which parts of the story we emphasize. Taking a month to notice that process was eye-opening for me, and comments like yours make the conversation even richer. I truly appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts, even if your typing speed couldn’t keep up with everything you wanted to say.
Shadow work is one of the most humbling experiences. When you begin, it's terrifying but as you become comfortable within the discomfort... Its like permission to exhale. This was beautifully written.
This is such an important callout. I never thought about it this way, but yes, disassociating from your feelings is basically lying to yourself. It is also a learned survival tactic. As Shakespeare famously said, "To think own self be true."
Absolutely recognizing that disassociating from our feelings is a form of self-deception is such a powerful insight. It reminds us that true growth begins with honesty toward ourselves, even when it feels uncomfortable. Like Shakespeare said, being true to oneself is both a challenge and a gift, and embracing that truth allows us to move through life with more clarity, integrity, and authenticity.
I find it interesting that being honest with yourself can sometimes feel more uncomfortable than being honest with someone else.
We’re surprisingly good at quietly negotiating with our own internal story.
So true facing our own story without filters can be the hardest conversation of all.
But that kind of honesty is also where the deepest clarity and growth begin.
This is an amazing article, N.E: When you wrote, "I didn’t realize how radical that decision would feel until I actually tried to do it." it made me realize that telling oneself the truth is a very radical act. And it takes a lot of courage to do so, even for one day alone. Our culture is drenched in deception, and it can get under our own skin without us even realizing it is happening. I think it is very important what you did. Thank you for writing and sharing.
Thank you for such a thoughtful reflection it really captures the heart of it. Telling ourselves the truth can feel radical because it asks us to step outside the quiet layers of comfort and conditioning we’ve built over time. It takes real courage to face things as they are, even briefly, and your insight about how easily we absorb deception without noticing is so powerful. I’m really glad it resonated with you these are the kinds of honest conversations that create meaningful change.
Thank you for sharing these insights. Creating a life of being honest with yourself really does shift your reality.
Absolutely honesty with yourself quietly reshapes everything from the inside out.
When your inner world aligns, your outer reality naturally begins to follow.
Engaging writing. So much to learn from you all!
Thank you that means a lot, truly.
We’re all learning from each other here, and that’s what makes it so powerful.
I felt this. I have found myself hiding from my truth too, to avoid being questioned or when people close recognise that things aren’t quite right, especially at home. It’s a slippery slope to fall into to tell yourself what you feel you need to to fit other’s narratives and avoid what’s really going on. I think we could all do to be more honest with ourselves especially if that makes us feel uncomfortable, that’s usually where the change happens. really good read
Absolutely what you’ve shared resonates deeply. Hiding from our own truth to fit others’ expectations is something many of us do without realizing it, and it can quietly shape our lives in ways that feel misaligned. The courage to be honest with ourselves, even when it’s uncomfortable, is often where real growth begins. That willingness to face what’s really going on creates space for meaningful change and a life that feels more authentic.
What a beautiful piece of writing, honesty is a hard area to bring fully into your own life, as it makes you feel vulnerable, but from that vulnerability comes growth.
Thank you that’s such a thoughtful reflection.
It’s true, when we allow ourselves to be vulnerable with honesty, it quietly opens the door to real growth.
I am impressed that you did this for a whole month and how true that, as you highlight, that we are the narrators of our own lives and we can be so selective with edgar we choose to emphasise, Thank you a deeply interesting post (and way more that could be said than my typing speed allows for 🙂). 🌻🙏
Thank you so much for this thoughtful reflection, it really means a lot. You’re absolutely right that we’re the narrators of our own lives, and it’s fascinating how selective we can be about which parts of the story we emphasize. Taking a month to notice that process was eye-opening for me, and comments like yours make the conversation even richer. I truly appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts, even if your typing speed couldn’t keep up with everything you wanted to say.
Shadow work is one of the most humbling experiences. When you begin, it's terrifying but as you become comfortable within the discomfort... Its like permission to exhale. This was beautifully written.
So true shadow work can feel intense at first, but it often leads to the deepest sense of release and understanding.
Once we lean into that discomfort, it opens the door to real peace and self-acceptance.
I loved reading this, and I may also try this myself. Thank you for sharing!
I’m really glad it resonated with you.
Trying it for yourself might reveal insights you didn’t expect sometimes the smallest experiments bring the biggest clarity.