Do you ever feel like you wear a mask and are often acting as someone who is not who you wish to be. You are constantly playing being the version of you that you think others want to see.

You laugh, you smile, you say you are doing okay when you feel so drained and tired. You may doubt yourself all the time. You may wonder why you feel grumpy and impatient on the inside. You may think why can’t I be thankful for my life. Every day can feel like a burden.

What if you get your emotions to ensure you and not other people feel okay? Why do you have to be the one that wants your family and friends to be happy and peaceful?

So, if you are nodding your head with any of the above statements or questions what can you do? You can identify what you are feeling and not what you think you should feel.

One day I started saying I am struggling a bit instead of saying everything was great. I felt I had to justify not pretending that things were under control but it felt freeing and honest.

Have you tried being honest about your feelings and not trying to please others? I sometimes go back to old habits but at times I feel I can self-care, love myself and rest without feeling guilty. It is hard not to pretend I am ok when the day is challenging.

Can you relate to anything I have written? Sometimes things we tell ourselves can be powerful. 

If you had a loving family but your parents, like mine, may have told you how clumsy you were or why have you become unhappy? As an adult I take charge of my thoughts but sometimes the niggling self-doubt can be loud.

Leah 

A Moodscope member