My word for the year is ✨transparency✨.
The dictionary meaning I prefer is:
the quality of being easy to perceive or detect.
So what does that mean? It means that I will be clear in my words & actions. I will do my best to not hide my feelings or thoughts. I will share for the purpose of allowing those I’m interacting with to know my motives.
Transparency differs from honesty in a subtle but important way. Honesty means that if you ask, I will answer with the truth… but potentially only to the degree necessary to answer your question. So you must ask the right question. (I know this from experience.)
Transparency means you don’t have to ask the right question… you don’t even have to ask a question at all. The onus is on ME to be clear & forthcoming with you (& myself). The responsibility is mine. I own the action, unprompted.
I don’t necessarily think this will be easy. Nor do I think it will be the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but it will certainly be a stretch.
As a recovering people-pleaser (yep, still in the program), it’s often been too easy to withhold my true feelings for the sake of protecting someone else’s, at the detriment to my own, of course.
So a big part of transparency will be practicing radical acceptance. Acceptance that it’s ok to prioritize my own feelings… to love myself more… to take care of my inner child.
To support me on this journey is my commitment to journal… to write more & to share those writings (thanks to all who have inquired)… to maintain a daily practice of learning & contemplation (looking at you Daily Stoic)… to love more… & you.
Yes, you!
As my friend, I’d like you to be my accountability partner in this endeavor to be transparent. I want you to know that you can count on me to be clear & thoughtful & direct in our communications. So let’s get to interacting! Thank you in advance for your help. 🤝
And if I can show up for you in some way, just ask. I’ll practice my new skill of transparency in my response. 🫶
Let’s fucking do this! 💪🏽👧🏻💗