Observe a child and you’ll witness the gift of full expression. He may cry because he felt left out. She cries because she feels scared of a big crowd. But as we get older instead of voicing how we feel, we block them. We learn to stifle our inner voice in order to appease a parent or to fit in. Instead of saying, “I’m hurt because I wasn’t included” or “I was scared because I felt abandoned,” we get angry, close up, shut down, stop listening.

I think the gifts these posts bring this week is a reminder that we not only have a voice, but using it is the best gift we can give ourselves. It’s one of my favorite wrap-ups of our best blogs of the week. These posts remind me that it’s okay to not be nice all the time, that showing my vulnerable, unlovable side is scary and that it can even ruffle feathers sometimes. But the alternative, holding it all in, hiding what’s real because it feels safe, is not a way I want to live. And you don’t deserve to live that way either.

As you’ll read below, when we’re able to give wholeheartedly to ourselves, we become better partners, parents, people. In fact, just taking the time to read these posts, could be one of the best gifts you give yourself.

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