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Joshua
Discover the journey behind the mission
Living Your Truth is the courageous act of aligning your external actions with your internal values, regardless of past labels or current external validation. It involves shedding the weight of secrets and accepting that your transformation may trigger discomfort in others—a phenomenon known as Relational Mirroring —which serves as a filter for authentic connection rather than a barrier.
To be free of secrets is the ultimate freedom. When there is nothing to hide, there is nothing to be used against you.
Others' discomfort with your growth is often a reflection of their own internal struggles, not your story.
Reject the "Lies of Labels" (junkie, cheater, failure) to embrace your divinely designed purpose.
It is absolutely one of the most liberating things in the world to free ourselves of secrets. To be free of our secrets is the ultimate freedom because, quite simply, there is nothing left to hide. There is nothing to be used as leverage against us.
The truth does more than set us free—it often sets the people free who have been burdened by keeping our secrets. However, there is a secondary dynamic to truth that demands discussion: the reality that your truth can make other people very, very uncomfortable.
"Authenticity is the daily practice of letting go of who we think we're supposed to be and embracing who we are."
Even when you have completely rehabilitated your life, some individuals may remain fixated on the person you used to be. Or, when meeting someone new, disclosing your past may create palpable unease. This can be an incredibly frustrating experience for someone seeking redemption.
However, this is a critical moment for Emotional Detachment. Your truth matters. While you might internalize their reaction as rejection, the reality is often that your transformation has triggered them. It may remind them of:
This is not a reason to stop doing the work. The fact that someone else cannot process your transformation should never derail your sobriety, your mental health journey, or your spiritual maturity.
"I remember hearing, 'Oh, you're always going to be a junkie. You're always going to be a cheater.' For a time, I believed it. Whatever momentum I had would vanish. It took a sermon called 'The Lies of Labels' for me to realize that as long as I accepted those labels, I was trapped. I had to understand how God saw me. I don't believe in a creator that would make any of us for anything other than a specific, special purpose."
Joshua T. Berglan
Living in your purpose is beautiful, but it requires truth. Unfortunately, part of the journey is accepting that some people simply won't have the eyes to see the "New You." They may be so clouded by their own hurt that they cannot perceive your growth. And that is okay.
Regardless of the fear of rejection, know this: Everything you have overcome is not just for you. You did that work to be a roadmap for others. Your story is needed. Be bold, be courageous, and be authentically yourself.
The world needs your truth. Discover more resources for your journey on The World's Mayor Experience Bookshelf.
Explore Resources"Be bold, be courageous, be you."
Joshua T. Berglan
The Legacy Architect
