Declaration of Independence from Insecurity

(An exercise from Keeping a Journal You Love by Sheila Bender)

You have prevented me from being myself.

You have prevented me from having fun.

You have made me anxious.

You have made me bland.

You have made me silent.

You have restrained my sense of humor.

You have restrained my sense of dignity.

You have caused me to pretend.

You have caused me to hide.

You have caused me pain.

You have hindered my ability to laugh.

You have hindered my ability to cry.

You have held me in the dark.

You have held me under water.

You have held me back.

I will not allow this anymore.

I will be me.

I will live truth.

I will refute anger.

I will bask in solitude.

I will embrace uncertainty.

I will hold onto my principles.

I will prize my "guilty" pleasures.

I will grow to be a person I admire.

I will show the world who I am.

I will agitate my comfort zone.

I will admit my weaknesses.

I will honor my intuition.

I will fly my freak flag.

I will trust my Self.

I will forgive.