I never cared much to fit in.

So speaking my mind was a breeze even though I was often rejected for voicing my opinion among my peers especially on the importance of Gender Equality. As a teenager I was assertive about women’s rights and often discussed how patriarchy has dictated a status quo for women. Watching a gazillion Oprah shows portraying real strong women influenced me to believe and understand the power women contain. However there still wasn’t much awareness at the time and someone important to me would often ridicule my ideals of feminism to the point of emotional abuse, but boy was I right! Today it is safe and valid to say it’s a woman’s world out in the open without giving two shits about other people’s opinion and we all know this took courage, will, and resilience from both men and women for years. In some parts of the world we are still revolutionizing this fact about gender equality.

Today, not only do we have women embracing their divine feminine, speaking their truth and acing their role in the world, we have men acknowledging that they are in touch with their feminine side and are embracing the divine feminine.

Also, props to men who support and understand gender Equality.

This is one truth amongst many, which was at one point completely rejected / sidelined by the collective patriarchal consciousness.

Coming into the present moment, (take a deep breath in and exhale) what could possibly be stopping you from speaking your truth?

Do you often second guess yourself? Do you second guess about openly speaking about what you feel? Do you care for people’s opinion about you and the ideas you have (and perhaps fear their invalidation)?

Let’s find out.

Please close your eyes, take a deep breath in and ask yourself what stops me from expressing myself.

What answer do you get? An I-don’t-know? Fear, lack of confidence or do I rather please people than speak my truth?

Have you become comfortable being in that resistance? Or let me put it this way – are you unsure of speaking your truth because you need external validation of your thoughts and opinions or that you are only comfortable to speak it if validated by someone close? And most importantly, did that validation develop your self-confidence or it is needed each time to feel so? (Read that again)

Ever notice a group of children and the conviction with which they share their truth? Their truth might be a story about an encounter with a mermaid and a unicorn, however, in their minds it is still their truth, something that resonates with them. Children have great imagination and visualization, so they believe that this encounter has occurred. Not once do they worry about judgement, even though little kids can be extremely critical too. All that matters is that they express their truth and they are comfortable and confident expressing themselves without giving two hoots of how they come across to their peers.

Well, definitely as adults our truth is far from enchanted fantasies but we all have something we deeply care about and want to speak about. Consider how much good your truth can bring to your own well-being, your confidence. Being assertive can really make you shine. You never know who you end up helping. There might be someone looking for support & hope and that power is in you when you share and express yourself freely (For all you know, someone today (you, perhaps) is really resonating with my message here). Every change that has come about in today’s world is because someone had the courage to go against their conditioned minds and speak their heart out because it was a truth they believed in.

Sure it isn’t always easy, but perhaps you can start by practicing it within your inner circle. Express how you really feel, give your opinion when they ask and a genuine one at that. Make conversations around subjects you care about.
If you find it overwhelming, begin by assigning a day of the week dedicated to an affirmation of “I am assertive”, “I speak my truth” – Tuesday for truth day, and stick by it. This practice will empower you.

When you are your authentic self, in your power, expressing yourself, rejection is bound to happen. People will judge you. Get comfortable with accepting the fact that you may not be everyone’s cup of tea. Perhaps the likes on your gram will be a handful and it shouldn’t matter, because all you need is self-validation. If it resonates with you and you feel deeply about it, then express yourself. Eventually you will attract your tribe, the ones who resonate with the same consciousness as you. Truth always wins and your truth is part of your reality and THAT is valid.