photo #8320836

"Not because the truth is wrong, but because it threatens the comfort of people who’d rather live in denial.Speak the truth about your boundaries? You’re “selfish.” Call out toxic behavior in your family? You’re “disrespectful.” Say what you really think, feel, or believe? Now you’re “too much.”The truth doesn’t beg to be liked. It doesn’t dress itself up to be palatable. It just is. And when you finally stop watering it down, don’t be surprised when the room gets quieter. Some people weren’t clapping for you, they were clapping for your complianceLet them go.Because peace built on pretending isn’t peace, it’s a prison. And I don’t care how pretty the view is, if I have to lie to stay, I’m out.Truth will cost you.But pretending will cost you more.And if that makes me the villain in someone else’s story, so be it. At least I’m finally living in my own authentic story."