Will The Truth Really Set You Free?
One thing I have realized in my journey to physical and mental freedom is, we all have secrets. There are things that we all keep close to us that we do not want others to know about us. It could be about being abused, issues in our relationships, or even things that go on in our families and with our children. We also don’t let others know about how unworthy or unloved we may feel at times. We wear masks and often live lives in a persona that we create. What is really most distributing, is no only do we keep these things from the people around us, but we even have things deep within that we have either hidden or don’t even know about ourselves.
The problem with keeping these things in secret, is they knowingly or unknowingly keep us bound and prevent us from experiencing true freedom, which is why we so ofter recite “the truth shall set you free.” This is real and true and I can tell you from personal experience, it is this shame and this mask, that diminishes our ability to flourish, have successful relationships and live the life we were created to live. It leads us to ‘dummy down’ what we want in life, settle for less and live a lie. A great example is from Chuck Swindoll in his book “Start Where You Are”.
“Don’t be fooled by me. Don’t be fooled by the face I wear. I wear a mask. I wear a thousand masks-masks that I am afraid to take off; and none of them are me. Pretending is an art that is second nature to me, but don’t be fooled. For my sake, don’t be fooled. I give the impression that I am secure, that all is sunny and unruffled within me as well as without, that confidence is my name and coolness is my game, that the water is calm and I am in command; and that I need no one. But don’t believe in me, please. My surface may seem smooth, but my surface is my mask, my ever-varying and ever concealing mask. Beneath lies no smugness, no complacence. Beneath dwells the real me in confusion, in fear, in aloneness. But I hide that. I don’t want anybody to know it. I panic at the thought of my weakness and fear being exposed. That’s why I frantically created a mask to hide behind, a non-chalant sophisticated facade…to help me pretend, to shield me from the glance that he knows. But such a glance is precisely my salvation, my only salvation and I know it. That is, it it’s followed by acceptance. If it is followed by acceptance. If it is followed by love. It’s the only thing that liberates me from myself, from my own self-built prison wall, from the barriers I so painstakingly erect. It’s the only thing that will assure me of what I can’t assure myself…that I am really something… Who am I? you may wonder. I am someone you know very well. I am every man you meet. I am every woman you meet. I am every child you meet. I am right in front of you. Please love me.”
The only way to be set free by the truth is to share your secrets. Now I know many of you are thinking just as I used to. “Coach Allie, I don’t want to tell anybody my business.” But what if I tell you living a life you love can only be achieved by doing so. I promise you that great things happen when you have the courage to be yourself.
Break Free Opportunity
Tell a secret. Make sure you find someone you completely trust, or if you are like me and still feel afraid, tell someone who you don’t know that well who doesn’t really know you. When I did this for the first time I chose one of the mothers at my church. Tell them something that you have never told anyone before.
Make sure you create boundaries before you do so. Ask them to keep your confidence before you share it! You will slowly begin to experience the freedom that comes from not being scared of people finding out who you are, what you are, who you’ve been in the past, and the things you’ve done. The more you practice, the easier it will become.
Now I share EVERYTHING with EVERYBODY. It is so liberating. It has freed me and my entire family. I now have better relationships and more importantly I am exhibiting self love by being true to myself.
Be encouraged that your new life lies ahead. Please share and comment on this post about your experience with keeping secrets. Together we can be and help others be free. “Not just barely free…… abundantly free.”
Your Prison Break Coach
Allison T Moore
Prison Break Coach 