Time to Face the Truth🪞
“The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change.” — Carl Rogers
“The habits you struggle to break are often not the problem themselves, but symptoms of deeper needs or fears. To change the habit, you must first confront the underlying truth it seeks to obscure.”
I remember a friend who spent every spare moment glued to online gaming. Hours vanished as he sank into glowing screens, lost in pixelated battles and endless quests.
At first, it seemed like an addiction. But no.
There was something beneath that surface level.
He wasn’t just gaming. He was running. Avoiding the noise in his head. He sought an escape from the pressure of trying to live up to what others expected of him.
The screen became his refuge.
A hiding place. A way to shut out the fear of falling short.
The so-called “bad habit” wasn’t the issue itself—it was a shield hiding his larger worry about disappointing those around him. Once he faced that raw fear, the pull of the screen lost its grip.
When you notice a troubling habit, ask yourself what you might be running from.
Grab a pen.
Write down three feelings that bubble up right before you fall into that habit. Don’t overthink it. Just jot them down.
Now, sit with them for five minutes.
No guilt. No self-sabotage. Just observation. Let them exist.
That quiet honesty can guide you toward the real root of the problem.
“The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change.” — Carl Rogers
Have a thought about how hidden worries might be fueling your actions?
Perhaps you’ve uncovered a pattern of your own. Let me know.
I’d love to hear about your breakthroughs, struggles, and even those small glimmers of hope. Send your story my way or post a quick note in the comments.
We grow by swapping stories. We learn when we share with each other.
Every time you show up, I see it.
The grit, the potential, the quiet power.
You’ve got what it takes to dig deeper, to untangle what’s really driving you. Keep listening to that inner voice. Keep showing up.
I’m here, cheering for you every step of the way.
With care and conviction,
—Ryan