How open should we be? With our feelings? With our struggles? With our truths? It’s a question I’ve been sitting with a lot lately, especially as I blog and put myself out to the internet. Once you put it out to the universe, you can’t take it back. Your digital footprint is hard to scrub. Once seen it’s hard to unsee.
We live in a time when “authenticity” is celebrated in captions, but real openness, raw, honest, unfiltered vulnerability, is still a risky business. Especially in a world that records, reposts, and reacts in real time.
So what does it mean to be open in this dispensation? Does it help us or hurt us? It all depends on your view on life. It’s been said that people relate to people, not personas. Hard to believe when we see how people react to “influencers”. Is it the person they are reacting to or what the person represents? When we share honestly, when we dare to say, “I’m not okay today,” or “This is hard for me”, it creates real connection. Not just likes or emojis, but resonance. It tells someone else, “You’re not alone.” In leadership, in relationships, even in business, this kind of transparency builds trust.
There’s a certain freedom that comes with honesty. Holding everything inside may appear strong on the outside, but it corrodes and takes its toll on the inside. Speaking your truth, whether to a friend, a therapist, a journal, or a blog post, can be liberating. You unload. You breathe. You heal. I can attest. Being open shows others that it’s okay to do the same. It challenges the culture of pretending. It sets a new standard: that courage isn’t always loud or polished. Sometimes, it’s just choosing to show up honestly.
Unfortunately, not every listener is a safe space. In both real life and online spaces, vulnerability can be misused, misunderstood, or even weaponized. Some people just want the story, not the support. Others may use your honesty against you. That’s the risk. We live in a performative age. Algorithms reward attention, not necessarily authenticity. So while you may post something honest and heartfelt, it can be quickly swallowed up by noise, misinterpretation, or silence. Worse, you might find yourself commodifying your own pain just to be seen. It’s up to you to decide which direction you will go in.
Ever shared something deeply personal and then immediately felt anxious about it? That’s the vulnerability hangover. That was me at the beginning of my blogging journey. Sometimes, being open can feel like too much exposure, and the aftereffects can be real, emotionally, socially, and professionally.
Being open works when it’s intentional, not impulsive. When it’s grounded in self-awareness and discernment. When it’s guided by wisdom, not just emotion. We shouldn’t be open for validation. We shouldn’t perform pain or curate struggle. But we also shouldn’t be so guarded that no one knows us, not really.
So here’s what I’m learning:
Be open, but don’t bleed for everyone.
Be honest, but protect your peace.
Be real, but know your audience.
And above all, be kind to yourself in the process.
This digital age has reshaped what vulnerability looks like. But the human need behind it remains unchanged: we all want to be seen, heard, and held. And perhaps the most powerful thing we can offer this world is a version of ourselves that is honest, whole, and healing, not perfect.
Stay open. Carefully, courageously, beautifully open.
Let me know your thoughts; I genuinely want to know, and I’m sure others do too. Feel free to comment 👍🏽, but if you’re not comfortable, reach out to me through any medium. I’d be thrilled if you could share something, anything, and let others know. 🙏🏽 Your comments help me understand your perspective and often present a completely different view on the topic. They could even inspire another blog. 😉 And you never know how your comment might benefit others. Always remember, life is meant to be lived, and you should always strive to live your best life. #lifeisforliving #liveyourbestlife #gratefulforlife #faithgreaterthanfear
See you next Wednesday at 8:00 p.m., Bogotá time.
