Speak up for yourself.

I almost didn’t post this blog because I was doubting anyone would even be interested in reading it, but then I realized that’s exactly why I should finish putting it together and share it. It is so important to use your voice, so that’s what I am going to try and do today.

Today I actually want to talk about exactly that… how important it is that you let your voice be heard! I have talked about my experience with this blog in the past, about how it feels like I have nothing important to say. This makes it really hard to post blogs… as you may or may not have noticed haha.

My intention was to post a few blogs during May, which was Mental Health Awareness Month, but I just never got around to it. I tried multiple times to write something, but I was just having a hard time even knowing what to write. And anything I had written didn’t feel good enough.

With this post, I simply want to encourage you to speak up for yourself and use the voice you've been given. I recently heard someone say that suppression leads to depression, which makes so much sense!! Constantly bottling everything up and never sharing how we are actually feeling can make us feel SO isolated. But the moment we open up and are honest, we realize we are not alone!! It teaches us that everyone is going through something.

By speaking up, you are not only helping yourself. You have the potential to help someone else in the process, because by letting your walls come down, you are inviting others to do the same!

There are times you may feel like the only one struggling, which can make it really hard to speak up. But others may not know you are struggling unless you speak up. And whoever you are talking to is most likely struggling with something as well but are thinking the same thing as you...

I was just talking with my therapist yesterday about how I naturally respond when someone asks how I’m doing. I always catch myself saying, “I’m good”. I personally feel like many of us naturally say this. To me, it sometimes feels like we have been conditioned to ask how people how they are doing in a way that prompts this response.

I’m not sure if I assume people don’t actually want to hear how I’m doing or if I just have a fear of oversharing, but every time my therapist asks about my week… I say it was good.

But this week was different. I spoke up.

Do yourself a favor and next time someone takes the time out of their day to ask you how you are doing, take a moment to pause and really think about how you are doing. I know it is so much easier to just say you're fine and move on, but it is so rewarding to speak up and realize that you are not alone.

It is also so important to check in with yourself. It can be hard to share with someone else how you're feeling, if you yourself don't even know. Journaling is a great way to do this!

As I write this, I wonder if this is even going to resonate with anyone. I guess everyone could use a reminder that their voice matters... I know I needed to hear this.

Speaking up for yourself is an act of self-care!! Please do, you'll thank yourself later :)