Denial

Hey there, it's Janika.

Let's dive into a topic today that many of us are familiar with but we're often reluctant to confront.

Denial.

Denial is like a protective shield that we put up to avoid facing uncomfortable truths.

And really it's a defense mechanism that allows us to avoid reality just that little bit longer and cling to a potential false sense of security or reality.

Like when you know he's no good for you but you try to focus on the good times instead.

Or when you know the job that you're in is killing you but you tell yourself you should be happy you have a job at all.

But as comforting as denial may feel in the short term, it can ultimately prevent us from growing and thriving in the long run.

Before we explore this further, let's take a moment to ground ourselves.

So close your eyes if you feel comfortable doing that and let's take a breather.

You're going to inhale deeply through your nose, allowing the air to fill your lungs completely.

And now exhale slowly through your mouth, releasing any tension or resistance you might be holding onto.

Now let's do that again.

We're going to inhale deeply here, feeling the breath expand your chest and belly and exhale fully, letting go of anything that doesn't serve you for today.

And one more time, inhale deeply and exhale completely.

Now, as you continue to breathe deeply and evenly, let's chat denial.

Denial can manifest in many ways in our lives.

It might show up as ignoring warning signs in relationships like I mentioned or pretending that everything is fine when it's clearly not.

God, I'm the queen of that.

It could be avoiding difficult conversations or refusing to acknowledge our own mistakes and shortcomings.

But here is the thing about denial, it's a temporary fix, it's not a solution.

By denying reality we only delay the inevitable and prolong our own suffering or discomfort.

We may convince ourselves that we're protecting ourselves from pain, but in reality we are just kind of extending it.

I really believe that.

Think about a time in your life when you found yourself in denial, in a story of denial.

Maybe you were avoiding a difficult conversation or refusing to admit to yourself that you were unhappy in your job, your location, your home.

How did that denial impact you?

Did It Ultimately Help You or Hinder You in the Long Run?

The truth is, facing reality can be really scary sometimes.

It requires us to step out of that comfort zone.

But it's also where healing begins and new doors open.

So how can we break free from this grip of denial and start living more truthfully, authentically?

It starts with honesty.

With Ourselves and With Others, and it means acknowledging our feelings, even when they're uncomfortable, and being willing to face the truth, no matter how painful it might be.

It also requires us to cultivate self-awareness and mindfulness, to tune into our thoughts, to be aware of our feelings and our behaviors without judgment or resistance.

By staying present in the moment and accepting things as they are, we can begin to let go of the need for denial and start to embrace reality with open arms.

So I invite you to reflect on any areas of your life, any stories that you've got at the moment where you might be holding on to the narrative of denial.

What truths are you avoiding?

What fears are holding on to you and vice versa?

and most importantly what steps can you take to start living a more truthful and courageous story until next time take care of yourself