“Honesty is often very hard. The truth is often painful. But the freedom it can bring is worth the trying.” Fred Rogers
Happy Monday!
It’s finally February! I’m generally not someone to rush time, but January was tough this year. I saw a meme that referred to a 14-day trial that they’d like to return when talking about January. Not gonna lie; the thought crossed my mind, too. The good news is that we can recover. It might be challenging, and it may seem impossible, but we can survive much more than we give ourselves credit for.
Sometimes, we’d rather escape the truth of our situation, whatever it may be. Maybe it’s too difficult to face, or we might be exhausted from the grind. Often, we think it would be easier to hide from the truth and deal with things in the future. Usually, though, facing our realities squarely brings us to an acceptable conclusion faster.
I was privileged to help people confront difficult truths this week (me included, if I’m being honest). There were moments when the evidence was compelling, and avoiding reality wasn’t an option. In other instances, though, we had to tease out the truth because our default reactions and protective strategies can make it nearly impossible to see things as they are.
Not all of our truths are negative, but uncovering them can be just as tricky when layers of negative self-talk obscure the beauty of a positive truth. Taking an honest look at ourselves, understanding both sides of our character, and accepting all aspects of ourselves as part of what makes us unique is a journey. It also requires a great deal of courage.
Even the qualities we perceive as negative have a purpose. They are not inherently good or bad; they are merely parts of ourselves that contribute to our wholeness. Collectively, these various aspects shape our truths.
Fred Rogers, or Mr. Roger as he’s better known, had a lovely take on honesty and truth that I’ll share with you here:
There is freedom in truth, even though the thought of it may be daunting and sometimes scary. When we remain present with our thoughts and keep ourselves from spinning out of control, we can reach the point of understanding that makes the difficult work worthwhile. There’s freedom in not spending time in those less-than-desirable places in our minds.
Consider the time and energy we’ve invested in trying to solve future problems, for example. We get trapped in a cycle of thought that pulls us down, and before we know it, we’re convinced that the worst-case scenario is inevitable. Did you know that if we’re prone to anxiety, thinking about the future can lead directly to panic attacks? It’s true. We mislead ourselves into believing that dwelling on something long enough will change the outcome. The reality is that when we refocus on the present and calm our sensitive nervous systems, we can think more clearly and can more effectively tackle the challenge.
Scripture has quite a bit to say about truth, and here are just a few verses:
“Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being, And in the hidden part [of my heart], You will make me know wisdom.” Psalm 51:5 (AMP)
“Unfailing love and truth have met on their way; righteousness and peace have kissed one another.” Psalm 85:10 (VOICE)
“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:32 (NKJV)
This week presents a good opportunity to candidly assess some of the circumstances that hinder our progress in life and lead us into a new season of truth. Perhaps we need to accept certain truths about ourselves or our surroundings. This can be a challenging endeavor, but it often brings freedom in its wake. Maybe it’s time to explore how we’ve constructed walls of protection and begin dismantling those mechanisms that no longer serve a meaningful purpose. It might also be necessary to acknowledge and appreciate the wonderful qualities that make us special and unique.
At the very least, let’s spend time being present and in the moment, giving our nervous systems a much-needed vacation from the onslaught of future thinking. I hope we all learn valuable and life-giving information about ourselves. In any event, it’s definitely worth the trying!
Be Well & Be Blessed!
Lucinda
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