It’s easy to lie and say “I’m fine.”

But are you really “fine”? Are you really “Okay?”

I think this is an honest response to say “I’m fine” but its doesn’t hold truth to our real state of being. It really translates to: “I’m trying to put on a brave face and not worry anyone but really I’m a hot mess and I don’t want to admit that I’m a hot mess and I still want you to love and accept me and I don’t want to be a burden.”

What does that even mean?

Who told you that you have to make yourself small? To shrink to the socially acceptable format and deny your pain?

I suppose we could attribute this to many things. Maybe the question isn’t “how are you?” that needs to be asked.

How am I what? How am I navigating life? How am I handling failure? How am I coping with trauma? How am I dealing with a low bank account and bills to pay? How am I waking up everyday and getting out of bed when I don’t want to?

What does that mean? It’s okay not to be okay?

It means, come as you. You don’t have to pretend here. You don’t have to appease or lie. You as you are, just show up. No matter what condition you’re in.

You don’t have all the answers and that’s okay.

You can’t predict the outcome, no human can.

You feel broken, that doesn’t have to be a permanent state of being. A feeling with no expiration date.

Give yourself the permission to be. You as you are. Hurts, pain, all of it.

Diagnosis. Hard past. Difficult now. Uncertain future.

It’s all temporary.

In the hotel of life is a revolving door. People and problems, come and go.

Remember your suffering isn’t for nothing.

Healing is real.

You don’t have to answer with a lie.

Truth always sets us free.

What about exchanging the dwelling on our feelings for the hope of freedom instead?