The Truth of Being: The Performance I Let Go

There was a version of me I thought I had to be.

Polished. Predictable. Impressive in just the right ways.
A man made of quiet strength and constant control, always saying the right thing, always holding it together.

I wore him like a costume—stitched from expectations, praise, fear, and a deep longing to be respected… maybe even loved.

And for a while, he worked.
He got the nods. The validation. The safety.
But he also kept me distant from my own truth.

Because performing is not belonging.
And perfection is not love.

There came a moment—quiet but undeniable—when I realized I couldn’t carry him anymore.

He was too heavy
Too careful.
Too edited.

And so, I began the slow, awkward, beautiful process of letting him go.

Not all at once.
Just one small truth at a time.
One honest “no.”
One messy “yes.”
One breath where I didn’t hide.

What I discovered in the shedding was not a lesser version of me, but a freer one.

A self who was softer, stronger, and more real.
One who doesn’t need to be impressive to be worthy.
One who trusts that presence speaks louder than perfection ever could.

I let go of the performance.
And I found myself.

Not flawless.
But true.
And that, my friend, is where everything began.

—

✨ What are you ready to stop performing?
✨ Who might you meet beneath the mask?

✨ Next: Part III: The Power of Stillness
🏛️ Back to: The Truth of Being
⬅️ Previous: Part I: My Job Is to Be Me