Letters from a Therapist - Reflection Three

From Silence to Self-Honouring. How to Speak Your Truth (Even When It Feels Scary)

There’s a kind of silence that holds you tenderly, a quiet that nourishes, heals and brings you back home to self.

And then there’s a silence that suffocates.

The kind that tightens around your throat, keeping your truth trapped inside. The kind where you swallow words that were meant to set you free.

Not all silence is peaceful. Sometimes, silence is a slow kind of self-betrayal.

You tell yourself:

"It’s not worth the fight.

"I don’t want to cause trouble.

"Maybe I’m just overreacting."

But deep down, something aches. Not just because your words were left unsaid, but because you were left behind.

We hush ourselves to keep the peace, but at what cost? A life where you don’t speak is a life where you slowly disappear.

And here is the truth:

Your voice matters. Not just in the grand, sweeping moments but in the small, shaky ones.

The ones that feel messy.

The ones that feel inconvenient.

The ones where your truth is raw and trembling.

Those moments are worthy, too.

Speaking up isn’t always about volume.

Sometimes, it’s a whisper: "This hurts.

Sometimes, it’s a pause: "I need to say something.

Sometimes, it’s a boundary: "This isn’t okay for me."

Each time you honour your truth, even in the quietest way, you choose self.

What I’ve Learned from My Clients

Through years of listening, one truth has stood out:

Often, the deepest wounds aren’t caused by what others say, they’re caused by what we never dared to.

I’ve sat with people who carried their silence for years, folding their voices small so others could remain comfortable.

One client once told me:

"I stayed quiet, not because I didn’t care… but because I cared too much."

That stayed with me.

It reminded me that silence isn’t always indifference.

Sometimes, it’s fear.

Sometimes, it’s misplaced loyalty.

Sometimes, it’s love tangled up in self-sacrifice.

I’ve learned that finding your voice isn’t about shouting from the rooftops.

It’s about feeling safe enough to begin.

A Final Thought

You don’t have to get it all perfect.

You don’t have to have the right words.

You just have to begin.

Speaking your truth is an act of self-love, a sacred promise that you matter.

Every time you honour what you feel, even in the smallest way. You rebuild the bridge back to yourself.

So, take your time.

Breathe.

You are allowed to take up space here.

And if your voice shakes when you speak, let it shake.

That, too, is courage.

Guiding you with clarity, healing you with heart

Paula | Your Heart Therapist