The Truth We Keep Negotiating With

When We Know, But Don’t Want to Know

Sometimes denial doesn't look like pretending everything is fine.

Sometimes it looks like making excuses for something we already know isn't working.

Staying busy so we don't have to feel.

Avoiding the conversation we know we need to have.

Holding onto something because accepting the truth feels more painful than living with the discomfort.

And sometimes, the person we're in denial about is ourselves.

We may already know what something is asking of us, but we keep negotiating with the truth.

Maybe it will change.

Maybe they'll apologise.

Maybe I'm overreacting.

Maybe I should just give it more time.

And perhaps the hardest part is that what we refuse to acknowledge within ourselves can spill into the lives of the people around us too.

Our silence. Our frustration. Our withdrawal. The patterns we keep repeating.

From a healing perspective, denial can sometimes be a form of protection. Because acknowledging the truth may mean grieving something.

Changing something.

Letting go.

Taking responsibility.

Or simply admitting that something hurts.

And sometimes… we aren't ready.

But healing asks us, gently:

What am I avoiding seeing?

Not so that we can judge ourselves.

But so that we can begin to meet ourselves honestly.

Because we cannot heal what we continually refuse to acknowledge.

Maybe this Sunday, the invitation is simply to tell ourselves the truth.

Gently. Honestly. Without shame.

Because sometimes the first step towards healing isn't changing what is happening around us.

It's being brave enough to stop looking away and startlooking within.

What might you be ready to acknowledge?