We all have our secrets: thoughts, memories, feelings that we keep to ourselves. Often we think, "If people knew what I feel or think, they would not love me." These carefully kept secrets can do us much harm. They can make us feel guilty or ashamed and may lead us to self-rejection, depression, and even suicidal thoughts and actions.
One of the most important things we can do with our secrets is to share them in a safe place, with people we trust. When we have a good way to bring our secrets into the light and can look at them with others, we will quickly discover that we are not alone with our secrets and that our trusting friends will love us more deeply and more intimately than before. Bringing our secrets into the light creates community and inner healing. As a result of sharing secrets, not only will others love us better but we will love ourselves more fully.
--Henri Nouwen
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2 comments:
I've often heard in 'the halls' that "we are only as sick as our secrets", and I knew and know now that this was and continues to be true for me; some days I just don't feel like sharing those things that I'm bothered by so I don't and it makes me feel progressively worse until these 'secrets' have been exposed to the 'sunlight of the spirit'....thanks for letting me share...B.
You're welcome, b42. Thanks for your comment. I believe that Steps Four and Five are so helpful and cleansing precisely because we shine the light of the spirit on our secrets.
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