I didn't start here.
my story is probably a lot like yours.
Over the course of my life, I’ve been told I was Too Sensitive, Too Emotional, Too Dramatic, Too Outspoken, Too Feisty, Too Smart, Too Opinionated, Too Voluptuous, Too Needy among others. And there were consequences for my too muchness… Love withdrawn, isolation and rejection.
So, as I grew older, I became masterful at the art of shrinking and dimming myself in exchange for love and acceptance. I learned to make other people’s needs more important than my own. I traded my soul for external validation.
I learned to bite my tongue, swallow my desire and hide my feelings. It worked well for a while…until it didn't.
Like holding a beach ball underwater, the energy required to suppress myself became exhausting. I was sapped emotionally, burnt out physically and lost my love for life.
The daily masquerade started to unravel. I could no longer perform the roles of happy mom, supportive wife, inspirational speaker.
I was a fraud. A liar. And I was done.
