Don't Be Afraid to Speak Up

Being visible and letting people know the real you can feel awkward. At first, we may express ourselves in a clumsy way if we have been withholding parts of ourselves or are not used to telling the truth. But we must not shy away from this uneasiness because it means we are growing. Living powerfully depends on our ability to communicate honestly.

Consider how you might not be expressing yourself authentically. Can you relate to one or more of the following patterns?

Not saying what you really feel even when you're asked to do so
Not asking questions when you don't understand something but acting instead as though you do
Not asking for help or support when you need it
Not speaking up on important issues and resenting those who do

These are a few of the ways we avoid being fully present, seen and heard. The first step to changing is to catch ourselves participating in self-sabotage behaviors, like not saying what we think and feel. As we become more self-aware, we need to treat ourselves with compassion, realizing that if we could have done better in the past, we would have. Don't shy away from your power. You have a voice, use it.

Excerpt from In Her Power: Reclaiming Your Authentic Self.