SL 365 | Day 24 | "It's No Secret that I Love Myself"

In "secret" culture, a hierarchy is set up in which some people know and are allowed to dispense knowledge, and others are there only to learn, listen, and receive. This creates an unsustainable and unhealthy power dynamic, regardless of the situation. Many of us, however, grew up in this type of culture and are so accustomed to it we don't even notice it, nor the damage it does to our relationships, group dynamics, and our capacity for honesty. Fortunately, we are living in a time when truth-telling & fact-finding is at the forefront of everyone's minds. We all desire to tell and be told the truth. In a self-love framework, it's critical that truth-telling of any sort be paired with compassion. Otherwise, we risk veering too far to the opposite side of secrecy into harsh, uncaring, and often brutal honesty. Compassionate truth-telling is the antidote to residing on either side of this spectrum; it is the nuance our society lacks, and it is the primary way we can be honest with ourselves in support of a healthy self-love practice.