We all tell ourselves stories. They explain our emotions & give meaning to our lives. Moreover, they tell us how to react to specific situations & offer us patterns to fall back on when we aren’t sure what to do. The question is: are you telling yourself the entire story? Do your stories serve you? Can you be honest with yourself, or are you using stories to cover up your true feelings?
You can have a relationship, a job, & friends when you are not being honest with yourself. But you can never find true fulfillment. Thus, to make your life a masterpiece, you need to be honest with yourself – so that you can get what you really want!
Why Being Honest With Yourself Is Important?
People lead their entire lives without realizing that they aren’t being honest with themselves. Well, that’s because those people aren’t in touch with their emotions.
If one wants to live life to the fullest, try to connect with your emotions. Once you master your emotions, find your purpose, & begin to live your vision, you will discover a fearlessness & conviction you never could have imagined.
Interestingly, the most passionate relationships are those between people who are completely honest with themselves & each other. Moreover, the most fulfilling careers occur when we are in touch with what we really want in our lives.
Thus, when you learn to be honest with yourself, you gain self-esteem, compassion, & unshakeable belief in yourself.
Signs That You Should Be Honest With Yourself
If something feels ‘off’ in your life, i.e., your relationship isn’t fulfilling, you aren’t excited about your career, or you feel busy but not productive, then it’s probably time to learn to be honest with yourself.
Look for the signs below, indicating that you must be honest with yourself.
– You Self-Sabotage
Do you say you want one thing but then do something which is completely opposite? Many of us sabotage ourselves in this way because we are actually afraid of success. Our limiting beliefs tell us that we might lose respect, friendship, etc., if we gain more success. This is why being honest with yourself becomes really important. It includes uncovering limiting beliefs, irrespective of how painful they are.
– You Complain But Don’t Take Action
Do you talk about hating your job but don’t take any action regarding it? Also, do you talk about the fact that there aren’t any good people out there but don’t bother trying to find ways to meet people?
If that’s the case, then it’s time to shift your focus & change your attitude. Of course, everyone enjoys the attention one gets from complaining, but isn’t it important to try changing our lives instead of complaining?
– You Don’t Take Criticism Well
Do you become defensive when someone tries to offer you feedback? If criticism feels like hitting too close, that’s because a part of you knows that it’s true.
So, if you respond by getting defensive instead of looking within yourself, it could be a sign that you must be honest with yourself.
Tips To Be Honest With Yourself
Once you have identified that you need to be honest with yourself, it’s time to take action. This won’t be pleasant – it might even be a bit painful. But it will open up a new world of happiness & prosperity.
Here are some tips for you to try!
1. Be Vulnerable
There is nothing more courageous than enabling yourself to be vulnerable. Absolute courage & vulnerability is a part of self-love & self-care. Whether you are working on a relationship with yourself or others, you are going to have your past trauma & old wounds. Thus, be willing to step into your pain so that you can face your fears head-on.
2. Reflect On Your Decisions
Take time out every day to reflect, as this will make you feel fulfilled & grateful.
Try writing in a journal at the beginning & end of each day, answering questions like:
- What did I do right today?
- What can I do better tomorrow?
- What am I grateful for?
- How did my actions help me attain my ultimate goals?
When you write down your thoughts, it is much harder to lie to yourself.
3. Picture Your Future
Learning to be honest with yourself isn’t just about reflecting on your past. Dreaming/ Thinking of your ideal future can often provide clarity on what you actually want.
Suppose you are 90 years old & sitting in your rocking chair. At that time, what will be your biggest regret in life? What will offer you the utmost fulfillment?
When you frame your life in such a way, you begin to see what really matters to you.
4. Develop Self-Awareness
Have you ever told someone, ‘You know me better than I know myself’? Well, it might be true!
Others see things in us that we aren’t able to see. However, if we are willing to ask for outside opinions, we can become more self-aware.
After all, self-awareness is one of the rarest human commodities. When you become aware of your patterns, when you know why you are the way you are, you can actually begin to be honest with yourself.
5. Don’t Shrug Off Your Feelings
Yes, lastly we will talk about feelings. Because in today’s world of half-hearted, ‘I’m fine’ answers, the least we can do is be honest with ourselves about our feelings.
If you constantly avoid how you are feeling, the feeling will only amplify. Well, this is because your emotions are specifically designed to be action signals.
If you ignore the signal again & again, it will eventually get so loud that you will have to listen to it. Well, this is when you can experience a full-on panic attack or nervous breakdown.
This is why being honest & admitting your feelings is the primary step to change that emotion to the one you actually want to feel.
So, instead of stuffing your feelings, have the courage to honestly face them & listen to what they want to tell you.
Final Thoughts
It’s time to tell the truth. Not just to others, but to the person you are stuck with for life: YOURSELF.
While beginning to be honest with yourself can be a bit brutal, but the limitless possibilities that come from pursuing the most authentic self are well worth the initial discomfort. Ultimately, you will find the truth that sets you free!
Lastly, if you wish to know more about our one-on-one coaching sessions, do visit our website, RILC Academy. Our experts will help you out.
