I hate driving.

speaking your truth and showing up as yourself

It’s been a hell of a week, guys.

I’ve been struggling to put my phone down, struggling to get out of my head and into my body. I have procrastinated writing this until the last minute (it is Sunday night as I write this). The horrors, they are persisting.

In a world that’s often (always?) noisy and full of opinions, it can feel hard to speak your truth and show up authentically. It’s easy to get caught up in trying to fit into molds or meet external expectations, but keeping your truest self hidden serves no one. Least of all you.

A small example: My best friend and I like to go to a monthly Full Moon Celebration but we haven’t been in a few months. She hasn’t mentioned it and I haven’t either. Turns out, we were both making up stories in our heads.

I started telling myself that she was resentful of always driving us there and she probably isn’t that into it and doesn’t like hanging out with me in a larger group because I’m so weird and awkward. (Typing this out now, I do see how silly it is, I’m not saying it’s logical)

Simultaneously, she’s been telling herself another (totally different but equally silly) story about how she’s ‘too much’ and I probably don’t want to go with her and that’s why I haven’t mentioned it.

I don’t even remember how we ended up discovering this but it felt so good to get it all out into open. Turns out, she loves driving. I can be her passenger princess anytime. I adore her and have never once felt like she was ‘too much’.

Obviously, not all examples of this are quite as innocuous. We can keep much larger thoughts and feelings to ourselves—but how is that helpful? Who is that serving?

Here’s why it matters, and how we can embrace it:

Authenticity Builds Connection

When you are unapologetically yourself, you naturally attract people who resonate with your energy. Authenticity isn’t about being perfect—it’s about being real. The more you share your true thoughts, feelings, and experiences, the more the people around you will actually know YOU. This is how you create deep, meaningful connections that go beyond small talk. This is how you build community.

Let Go of the Fear of Judgment

One of the biggest roadblocks to living authentically is the fear of judgment. What will people think? Am I too much?These questions often stop us from expressing ourselves fully. But when you embrace who you are—flaws, quirks, strengths, and all—you start to realize that judgment is often more about others’ insecurities than it is about you.

It is also worth noting that you will be too much for some people. You will not be everyone’s cup of tea. And that’s ok. Imagine how bland you’d have to make yourself to please everyone…

Your Authenticity Inspires Change

When you live your truth, you inspire others to step into their own power. Something fundamental shifted within me when I embraced my queerness. I didn’t have to. I was already married to a man with no plans to change that—why did it matter if people knew I was bisexual? Because I want the people closest to me to actually know me.

Change happens when individuals decide to stop hiding behind facades and start showing up as their true selves. Your authenticity can be the spark that ignites courage in someone else, helping them find the strength to live their truth too.

How to Start Showing Up Authentically:

• Practice Self-Awareness: Journal on what truly matters to you. What are your values? What do you care about? What makes you feel alive? This is the foundation of authenticity.

• Embrace Vulnerability: Let go of the fear of showing your truest self. Vulnerability is not a weakness; it’s a strength that builds trust and connection. And just like most things—it gets easier the more you do it.

• Consider the cost of inaction: To be loved is to be known. I would rather be loved for all of me than accepted for bits and pieces.

• Set Boundaries: Protect your energy by saying no when something doesn’t align with your values or desires. When you say yes just for the sake of saying yes, you dent your self-esteem and self-trust. Love yourself enough to let a no be a no so you can say YES with your full chest.

Final Thought:

Living authentically is not easy. It’s a life long process and you won’t always get it right. But as you speak your truth more and show up as the real you, you slowly create a life that is aligned with your values and your purpose. A life that feels like your own.

I know this sounds like an enormous undertaking but just try to notice what a yes feels like in your body. Follow it. Lead with curiosity and vulnerability and see where it takes you.

Oracle Card:

Before I sign off, I pulled a card to take us into the week ahead. If you are a paid subscriber, keep an eye on your inbox on Wednesday. I will be posting a New Moon Tarot Reading. If you are not a paid subscriber, well, why not?

As I was shuffling the cards, this one jumped right out of my hand. It feels like an apt message for January.

Mirror: treat your body like the palace it is.
You’ve been feeling self-conscious as of late, but the answer isn’t to change anything about yourself. The answer is to learn to love the body you’ve been given. Avoid those crash diets, that extreme exercise, or any other unhealthy behavior. Take strides toward a healthy mind-set that accepts yourself as you are, not what you feel pressured to be.

As always, thank you for reading.
Be good to yourself.