It’s funny how terrifying speaking up about your convictions can be.
You would think that it would be simple, because if you’re truly passionate about what you’re saying, the words pour out and mean exactly what you want them to, and you’re confident and well-spoken and feel like you’ve delivered a powerfully hard hitting message.
The sad truth of the matter that many people find though, is that sometimes it’s the words we want to say the most that are the most difficult to release from our mouths. We give ourselves all of these reasons why we can’t: fear, possible conflict, rejection. We worry that there’s more bad coming than good if we decide to voice our opinions, and we repress ourselves to avoid unnecessary drama.
I say this because it’s happened to me numerous times.
I always ask myself if what I’m really mad about is worth starting an argument over, or if it will just blow over and I can move past it on my own. I’d like to think that this makes me a fairly mature person who’s also very tolerant, but sometimes I also feel like it makes me a passive pushover. I pick my battles very carefully, and I’m the type of person that if you really did make me mad to the point where I know I can’t just get over it, you’ll know.
I can think of plenty of situations in my past where I shouldn’t have been afraid to say how I feel, but I was anyways. Particular situations that come to mind are with an old best friend and an ex boyfriend where I usually just accepted their criticisms and tried to rise above them on my own terms. I would notice everything that was happening, and would say nothing to simply avoid a conflict.
And that needs to stop.
I always hung out with very bold, outgoing and abrasive personalities growing up. I think that’s because I was much more of an introvert as a kid and wanted to branch out more. In turn, hanging out with these types of people did make me more social and helped me a grow. Now I’m one of the most outgoing people that I know, and my group of friends at USF are similar in that way.
Sometimes I brush things off that really should be addressed, and I’m getting to the point where I’m going to have no choice but to address them if they continue. I’m going to say something even if I’m nervous as hell, because I know that I’ll feel better in the end. Life starts at the end of your comfort zone, after all.
I encourage anyone else going through a similar situation to do the same, because you feel empowered when you speak your mind. People aren’t always going to like what you have to say, but that doesn’t make your opinions any less valuable. I think it’s healthy to have your mindset challenged on a daily basis, because it forces you to either stand firm in your beliefs, or to change your point of view and discover how you really feel.
So speak up, even if your voice shakes.
Driven By Daydreams 