The great essayist & poet Adrienne Rich wrote that, “When a woman tells the truth she is creating the possibility for more truth around her.”
From an early age, a lot of women were taught that the truth wasn’t the truth. And as a result, we learned to distance ourselves from emotions like anger, fear, disappointment and jealousy.
In order to cope (and not go completely insane) we may also have adapted by using something I call “play-acting positivity.“ Play-acting positivity is a coping mechanism that allows us to cover up difficult and overwhelming emotions like anger, sadness, disappointment and jealousy.
“Play-acting positivity” is that big smiley face we show people on the outside so that they think we’re okay.
These hidden, unfelt emotions can become toxic and create feelings of isolation, loneliness, disconnection in relationships, and even depression or addiction.
Trying to live life without ever feeling or acknowledging negative emotions is like trying to continuously inhale without ever exhaling.
Every emotion has a critical job to perform. Emotions can be our teachers. “They form a passageway that leads to deeper truths about who we are.”
Feel your feelings and speak your truth. You create space for more truth around you.
