Being Real to Myself ~
Lately, I’ve noticed something unsettling. As I try to connect my writing topics across platforms; to align my words with weekly podcast topics, guests, themes, and timing; I feel my raw voice thinning. Polishing itself into something more strategic. More curated. Less me.
And I don’t like it.
I’ve always written in a way that wanders. I ramble. I circle back. I leave threads loose. That voice, messy, reflective, unfiltered, is what first felt true on @redeem_thyself and @7_pedals. It wasn’t optimized. It wasn’t clean. It was honest. And somewhere along the way, I started wondering if I was sanding down the very edges that made the writing alive.
Being real to myself right now means naming that discomfort.
There’s nothing wrong with cohesion. Or intention. Or building something meaningful across platforms. But there is something wrong, for me, when I begin to sound like I’m performing insight instead of discovering it. When my writing starts to anticipate approval instead of truth.
I recently read a simple article on authenticity that resonated deeply: “The Power of Being Yourself” from Psychology Today. It reminds us that authenticity isn’t about being impressive; it’s about being aligned. That when we move too far away from our natural voice, we feel it in our bodies first.
Nature reflects this back to me. A river doesn’t reroute itself to be more attractive. A tree doesn’t grow straighter to match the forest. Things that endure tend to follow their own shape.
So I’m reminding myself: my voice doesn’t need to be efficient. Or tidy. Or perfectly cross-referenced. It needs to be mine. Raw. Rambling. Sometimes unresolved.
If the work is about redemption, becoming, and truth; then that truth has to start with how I speak.
Even when it wanders.
~ julie
If you feel so inclined, please reply with your thoughts.
Note: JM Lane is NOT a mental health professional, nor does she carry a license to practice medicine. Posts, blogs, and content are based on JM Lane’s personal experiences, perceptions, and reflections. By no means does any material convey what others should or should not do.