“Truth doesn’t take courage.” The most recent comment to catch my attention on social media. The words of a complete stranger, yet I found myself immediately scrutinizing them.
Sometimes the truth does take courage.
Like when the truth means asking for help. Or when the truth means revealing the most vulnerable pieces of your soul. Or when the truth means exposing chapters of your story that bring shame, doubt and disappointment.
Sometimes the truth does take courage.
Like when the truth means revealing you’re not ok and can’t do it on your own. Or when the truth means you must depart from parts of your life that no longer suit you. Or when the truth means hurting someone with knowledge and hidden information.
Sometimes the truth does take courage.
Like when it means revealing a diagnosis that will change lives. Or when the truth means consequences, destruction but also freedom and peace. Or when the truth means no longer keeping quiet, no longer avoiding conflict and no longer letting lacking self-esteem determine your choices.
The truth isn’t always easy, even though it’s right. Sometimes the truth takes courage and bravery and strength and bold assertion and a million other things.
If courage is: mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty. Then sometimes the truth takes courage. To step into vulnerability, fear, difficulty and even danger knowing you hold the pieces of a genuine and authentic knowing. A knowing that isn’t always easy or welcomed.
Lots of things in life take courage and sometimes sharing life’s truth is one of them.
