It’s been a long time coming, but I’m starting to believe that it is Safe to be myself. Today, I share my mistakes and personal qualities that I would have once kept hidden. I have to fight that urge to keep secrets, but I have discovered that sharing is the key to safety.

Just last week, someone I know gave a speech to a large group. In his speech, he detailed his failures but focused on being his best self. To his surprise, he got a standing ovation.

I was a little shocked when he told me about his speech. One part of me thought “I would never have told them my failures! Why would you do that?” A wiser part of me answered the question — “Because people crave authenticity.” I want to be like that — really authentic.

Authenticity is a new quality for me. I have to fight my instincts to protect parts of myself that has been attacked in the past. But

those parts of me that I want to hide are valuable. Those stories contain the essence of my growth and learning.

Without mistakes and failures, I would not have grown and learned new things. I have nothing to be ashamed of. I’m a normal human being doing what we all do… growing, learning, and expanding.

When I share my mistakes or unlikable qualities I’m able to connect with others who have had similar experiences. We’re not failures my friends, we’re A+ learners. It is safe to be myself. I can say it, and I believe it. We all are longing for more authenticity.

Safe To Be Myself was originally published in The Ascent on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.