Life is too short to not live authentically

You know those mornings where you wake up and you feel like you just can’t wait to experience that first glorious sip of coffee and step strong and confidently into your day? I love those! You know how sometimes the very next day you wake up and you feel like the dog took a dump on your bed with you inside it, and even though it’s stinky and uncomfortable, you can’t seem to find the strength to get out of it. I get these two completely contrasting emotions better than I could ever explain. “Really,” you might ask. Absolutely. I’m a human being, and so are you. I want to talk about the importance of letting your feelings breathe.

We live in a culture where expressing ourselves isn’t necessarily encouraged in most places. If we express sadness, disappointment or frustration in public, we’re depressed, a pessimist or completely aggressive and out of control. If we express gratitude, self-love or joy in public, we are a hippie freak, a narcissist or just plain naive. All of these are labels that we as silly human beings like to put on one another when we feel threatened or uncomfortable. I do it, too.

What if I said to you right now that it is OK to feel like crap sometimes? In fact, I encourage you to give yourself permission to feel like crap sometimes. Heck, I felt like crap for about three days straight last week, and yes, I know now that I allowed myself to feel that way for longer than desired, but hey, without the funk how can we fully embrace the good?

How often do you try and suppress your true, authentic emotions? Life is too short to not say or feel what you mean. Why do we allow ourselves to go through life not telling people we love them? Or that we miss them? Or that we’re sorry? Why do we need a guarantee that we won’t be judged negatively or looked at in a different way? Can’t we liberate ourselves from the need to know anything at all, and simply just be?

Sometimes I feel like a five-year-old. I have so many questions about the world and about you and about myself. When did we become so afraid of being vulnerable? When did we become so afraid to feel? Or so stubborn that we let beautiful friendships, feelings and partners go over misunderstandings and hurt feelings?

I don’t want to go through life wondering What if? Or being afraid to explore my own complex emotions. I want to live an authentic life. One where I fully express myself, my needs, my desires and my feelings. I want you to do all of these things too. Please? For me? No, for you.

I’m OK saying that I feel like crap sometimes. And I’m also OK saying that I feel beautiful, and strong and motivated. I’m OK telling somebody I think about them and that I miss them. I’m OK saying I don’t know where I will be in five years. I’m OK saying I love deeply and passionately. I’m OK saying I’m often scared and unsure. 

I am certain that only good can come from being real, honest and forthcoming with our own emotions. Think about how much lighter we would feel if we just released our real emotions into the world instead of holding back and bottling them up.

There is love out there for us. Relationships to be explored. Friendships that need more nurturing and honesty. Family dynamics that can be improved with just a little courage to dare and express our feelings first.

In the end we only regret the chances we didn’t take, the relationships we were scared to have and the decisions we waited too long to make.

Be yourself. Unapologetically yourself. With me. Sending you courage and lots of love.

Danielle Spillman is a certified yoga teacher, health enthusiast and writer. You can find more of her musings at www.findyourlightyoga.com.