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5 Reflections on Speaking Your Truth

By Joan Frances Moran April 19, 2022 Mindset

Speaking your truth will surely piss some people off and that’s a good thing. It’s time now, in your boomer years, to live your life the way you want to – the way you feel – yet always, of course, with reason and kindness.

You’ve spent the better part of your life being honest, patient, compassionate and loving. And you will always be that person. On the other hand, holding back your truth when it’s necessary to speak is not going to be healthy for your personal growth and transformation.

The Power of Speaking Your Truth

At the moment you start speaking your truth, you become more powerful than you can possibly imagine because when you speak the truth you start believing in yourself. Of course, everyone thinks they believe in self.

Taught from a young age to be authentic – be you, believe in yourself – it is common to think that we, gosh darn, are a one woman/man powerhouse. Think deeper, clearer and more profoundly and ask yourself: Are you really free enough to piss people off?

Speaking your truth comes from knowing who you are, from self-knowledge, and knowing your purpose in life. Your purpose is something you do. It’s something you are called to become. And, as with many things in life, achieving your purpose can sometimes take a lifetime of practice.

The following are five reflections that might inspire you to practice speaking your truth.

You Are Not Responsible for Other People’s Feelings

Most of the time you will not speak your truth because you don’t want to hurt someone’s feelings. That’s natural and oftentimes a good practice, depending on the time and circumstances of the dialogue. However, there are important and immediate situations in which you need to put forth your belief for clarification or conviction.

If you hurt a person’s feelings, please be patient until they figure out how to respond. I do this with my adult children from time to time, and even my daughters-in-law. Family truths are sometimes the most difficult of truths to speak.

By Speaking Your Truth, You Will Frequently Piss Someone Off

Please don’t take their attacks at you personally. It’s really not about you. It’s about them. In psychology, it is called transference. A person transfers their emotions to you, accusing you of possessing what they are feeling. Take a step back to assess and find your balance in mind, body and spirit. This is when I usually walk out of the room and pick up the conversation when everyone is less defensive.

Love and Trust People Enough to Let Them Learn Their Own Life’s Lessons

It is not necessary to push your truth onto someone else. And it’s not your job to fix anyone. However, it is your disposition to speak your truth when necessary to a person in conflict or to a person who plainly asks you what you think and how you feel.

Simple example: One of my daughters-in-law asked me what dining table I liked better. I selected the one I thought was more graceful and beautifully designed. Before she asked my opinion, she told me she had already ordered the other one. Within 10 minutes, she reviewed her decision and changed her order. I wasn’t concerned with hurting her feelings. She found her own truth and moved forward.

Intuition Is the Highest Form of Intelligence We Have

In yoga, intuition is called paying attention to your Third Eye – that space in the middle of your forehead between the brows that allows you to see the light, the truth in front of you more clearly. Your Third Eye keeps you conscious and allows you to move truthfully into situations that require your full honesty and integrity.

I sometimes see my sons in pain, or hurt, and I use my intuition (my truth) to ask important questions that may piss them off, yet, in the end, my truth helps them resolve their situation.

Never Give Your Power Away

Your truth is your power; so never give your power away to anyone else for any reason. Another way of framing this idea is that, to remain fully conscious in your life, it is important to speak your truth, which in turn, increases self-knowledge. Granted, sharing your truth takes a leap of faith; however, only then can you learn and know the doing of your purpose.

It’s Better to Live a Hard Truth than a Beautiful Lie

When you don’t tell the truth are you really lying? Yes and no. You may be teetering on the edge of proffering your hard truth and then covering it up with a beautiful lie because someone may be hurt.

This is the kind of indecisiveness that drives the universe crazy because the universe is constantly trying to guide you through signs, symbols and synchronicity. The universe gives you the energy to create thoughts and emotions that create your truth as well as a reality under your control and nobody else’s.

Follow this mantra and all will be well: Speak the truth and keep the peace with yourself and others.

Do you speak your truth? Or do you worry about what other will think? Do you feel that you know yourself better now as an older woman? How do you use your intuition in your relationships with others?

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Ingrid

However I also think at 60, Ive had to deal with standing up for myself more and have been shocked to realise how often i have put someone elses opinion above mine when it directly affected me and my life. So I’m really learning this now, with help from a counsellor. It’s all about boundaries and not allowing people to overstep mine. I have been too empathetic at times to my own detriment.

Ingrid

Wow v interesting article. No. As I get older, I hold my tongue more. I speak “my truth” less, out of concern for others. I tend to say to myself “that’s not my problem” rather than wade in with my opinion. I personally feel that this is more powerful. I try and avoid buying in. If my opinion cant change things and will be received negatively, better to keep my boundaries. Look at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle speaking “their truth”. It has brought so much pain and unhappiness to so many people.

The Author

Joan Moran is a keynote speaker, commanding the stage with her delightful humor, raw energy, and wealth of life experiences. She is an expert on wellness and is passionate about addressing the problems of mental inertia. A yoga instructor, Joan is the author of her wise and funny memoir, "60, Sex, & Tango, Confessions of a Beatnik Boomer" and "I'm the Boss of Me! Stay Sexy, Smart & Strong At Any Age". Her latest book, a thriller titled “An Accidental Cuban” is now available on Amazon. Check out Joan's website http://www.joanfrancesmoran.com and follow on Twitter @joanfmoran.

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