Let's be real

I think a major problem in our society today is that people are not willing to be vulnerable and honest about their lives. Trust me, I'm struggling with this right alongside you. Think about it--when someone asks, "how are you doing?", do you really tell them how you're actually doing, or do you answer back, "Fine, how are you?" without even thinking about it? I'm not talking about when the person you pass is someone you consider an acquaintance or someone you know because of a mutual class. I'm talking about someone you view as a genuine friend, someone you enjoy spending time with and want to get to know better. I know far too often, I spit out some rehearsed saying without even recognizing what's coming out of my mouth. Why do we do this? Why do we feel like we have to have our life all together 100% of the time and can never be struggling with anything? Because I know my life is not always peachy keen. And I'm pretty sure yours isn't, either. Yet it is common for people to put on a mask in front of others, trying to make it seem like everything is perfect. We like to build walls, protecting our secret struggles and hardships from anyone who might judge. We like to look put together on the outside, when in actuality, we may be falling apart.

I don't think we need to go around broadcasting all of our problems to the whole world. However, I do think we need to be vulnerable with close friends and family. I think we need to let people in to the deeper parts of our lives. We were not made to live in isolation. We were made for relationships, first and foremost with our Father, but also with fellow human beings.

Let's be real with one another. Stop putting on a front with close friends and family. Everyone knows your life can't be as perfect as you play it off to be, so you might as well stop pretending. I promise you, as hard as it is to be vulnerable, it's also incredibly freeing, and you will be amazed at how much you will grow as a person. Don't think I'm getting off the hook-- I promise to work alongside you and be honest with my close friends and family, tearing down my walls one step at a time.