Some Truths Are Harder To Say Out Loud
Sometimes our biggest obstacle is ourselves. Being completely honest with yourself isn't always easy, and it doesn't always lead to the most comfortable of admissions. The real truth? Change is scary, realizing we're not perfect is scary, and taking action is scary. It's easier to hide behind our actual feelings to explain away a bad habit or pretend we're okay, but it's simply not healthy. That's why these 20 things you're probably too scared to admit to yourself are questions you should be confronting yourself with.
1. You Don't Actually Like Your Job
Given that we spend a majority of our weekdays at work, and we spend an even greater amount of time working throughout our entire lives, it's scary admitting that you hate what you're doing. You might try to convince yourself that every job can be annoying sometimes, but deep down, that clawing feeling tells you that this goes beyond just a bad Monday.
2. You've Outgrown One Of Your Friendships
People change as they grow, and sometimes, two people who were once close and deeply loved each other, might just go down different paths. That can be hard to stomach, especially when there's so much history already there. But as your time spent together feels less and less enjoyable, it's a hard truth to ignore.
3. You're Jealous Of Someone You Love
Jealousy is a hard pill to swallow, especially when it's directed at someone you actually like. It's embarrassing to acknowledge, particularly when you know you should be happy for them. It doesn't matter if it's a promotion, a new relationship, or an exciting vacation, you know deep down that it's a nasty feeling.
4. You Care More About What People Think Than You Pretend
You might shrug things off when other people are around, but that doesn't stop the floodgates from opening when you're alone and left to your own thoughts. It's easy to claim that other people's opinions don't matter to you, but you know that in reality, all it takes is one bad comment to affect your mood completely.
5. You're Staying In A Relationship Because Starting Over Sounds Exhausting
It's a sad truth but not every relationship continues because both people are genuinely happy. Sometimes, one person already knows that things are over for them, but they choose to stay because that familiarity and ease sounds better than starting from scratch. It keeps you there, but not admitting the truth allows resentment to build.
6. You Miss Someone Who Wasn't Good For You
Knowing that someone wasn't right for you doesn't switch off the button in your brain to stop missing them. It can feel like you're disrespecting yourself to feel that way, so you might try to shove it deep inside in an attempt to hide it. But really, you should know that these contradictory feelings can coexist, and it doesn't mean you made a wrong decision in walking away.
7. You're Not As Busy As You Claim
Whenever you get an invitation to meet up with friends, coworkers, or family, you find it easier to pretend that you're busy than admitting you don't want to do it. You likely have the time, but you don't want to spend your limited energy on it. Being honest about your priorities can be uncomfortable, so it's easier to fake it.
8. You've Been Making The Same Excuse For Years
That one goal you said you'd get to this year? Looks like it's going to wait until next year again. Maybe you planned on hitting the gym more frequently or wanted to learn how to cook, but whatever it is, you know in your heart you've been using the same excuse over and over to postpone it. Admitting it means you'd have to actually try, and sometimes, you're just not ready for it.
9. You Want More Attention Than You Let On
You might act as though birthdays, compliments, and social media reactions don't matter, but the moment people don't acknowledge you the way you want, it's surprisingly noticeable and hard to ignore. Maybe you're scared to feel this way because wanting attention sounds self-centered, or maybe you're worried it'll dig up even deeper concerns you don't want to face.
10. You're Avoiding Someone Because You Owe Them An Apology
Avoidance can become remarkably convenient when you know you've handled something badly. Giving someone an apology might be the right thing to do, but it doesn't stop people (or even ourselves) from acting stubborn sometimes. It's easier to lie to yourself that you didn't apologize yet because you haven't seen that person.
11. You're More Competitive Than You'd Like To Admit
In an effort not to come across as rude or annoying, you might hide your competitive tendencies from others. But underneath that surface, you know that you're secretly hoping to win that promotion, bonus, or prize for yourself. Competition motivates you, but it's the ugly side of it that you're hoping not to unveil.
12. You're Spending Money To Impress People
When you care about what other people think, maybe more so than you'd like to admit, we sometimes go to extreme measures to protect our own image. Maybe it's spending money on luxury items or brand names simply to come across as successful. The uncomfortable part is knowing that honestly, you don't care and you're spending your money just to impress others.
13. You Don't Really Enjoy That Hobby Anymore
When a hobby is so closely tied to your identity, it can feel wrong quitting it. Change can be hard to accept, and you may continue to run, game, or paint just because you've always been the person who does it. You'll only be able to let go once you come to terms that you're a different person now.
14. You're Waiting For Someone Else To Fix Your Problem
Growing up comes with making big decisions, and while we love having the independence that comes with adulthood, there's also a lot of fear around making mistakes. That's why sometimes, you might leave situations as is, hoping that someone will make the first move or fix the problem. You don't want to realize that it's all in your hands because thats a level of accountability you need to prepare for.
15. You Sometimes Enjoy Canceling Plans
Just because you genuinely love your friends doesn't mean you should force yourself to hang with them every single time. You might feel guilty about feeling relief when plans are canceled, but it's more normal than you'd think. Sometimes we just crave a little bit of personal alone time! It by no means says that you're a bad friend.
16. You Haven't Forgiven Someone Like You Said You Have
Saying you've moved on is much easier than actually letting resentment disappear. So instead, you'll behave politely and insist everything is fine, even if you're still not over it. You might even be frustrated with yourself for doing it, for not letting them know how you actually feel.
17. You Don't Know What You're Doing
Adults can seem surprisingly put together and confident on the outside, but on the inside, we're all struggling to figure our lives out. Not knowing how to handle your career, bills, and responsibilities can make you feel lesser than or inadequate, so instead of reaching out for help, we lie and pretend that we know what we're doing.
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18. You've Been The Problem Before
It takes a lot of courage admitting that you were wrong, and at times, your emotions have to cool before you're ready to even consider it. But at the pit of your stomach, if you realize that you were the problem, that'll continue to stick with you until you accept the role you played. It's important to take ownership of your mistakes.
19. You're Not Happy With The Life You're Supposed To Want
Hitting your goals might feel nice in the moment, but once that feeling fades from the moment, you might realize things aren't as good as you thought they'd be. That job you always wanted, the house you wanted to buy, or the relationship you thought was perfect? Life doesn't always go the way we expect, and realizing that truth can be scary.
20. You Already Know What You Need To Do
Sometimes you aren't confused at all. You've considered the situation repeatedly, asked several people for advice, and searched for alternatives because you don't like the answer you've reached. And because you don't like what you've found, you might continue to push it aside so you can ignore it. After all, the hardest admission is knowing what you need to do, you're just too scared to do it.
