5 SIGNS YOU’RE EXPERIENCING THE FEAR OF BEING SEEN

Earlier today I read this line that struck me: “It was written somewhere that ‘most people die with all of their songs still inside them.” -Allen Levi

Were they unable to hear the songs, or were they too afraid to share them? Were they so obsessed with perfection and obedience that they willed the songs to go to a bolder person in another time? 

Imagine the songs you really love. Now imagine if the artist who channeled the song didn’t have the courage to create, complete, and then share it. Something unexplainable would be missing from the web of life. 

We are guided to put ourselves out there and shine our light in the world, but for those of us who have experienced the witch wound, harsh judgement, unwanted attention, or abuse, this guidance may feel a bit more like an insurmountable obstacle than a self-growth initiative. 

In traveling the transitions of the peaks and valleys of being human, we find ourselves questioning our purpose. What if we have become such clever illusionists we have hidden the greatest treasure, our Original Essence, from ourselves? 

Maybe the magical thread only you have to weave into the fabric of life is bright, shiny, and loud…

Or…

Maybe you don’t have songs to share. Maybe you have tiny, random acts of kindness that create an immeasurable ripple effect. Maybe for you, being seen doesn’t mean something bright and grand. Maybe it’s the profound act of allowing yourself to be in love. 

For us to allow ourselves to be fully seen by another is vulnerable, intimate, and perhaps best reserved for those we can trust with our tender hearts. To be present, fully see another, and accept them for who they are may be the foundation of love. Is it possible to fully see another when we are hiding ourselves? 

Fear of being seen can hide your Original Essence even from yourself. Are you experiencing it?

Here’s how to tell…

You are Hypercritical of Yourself 

You are diligent about keeping a record of past failures that you remind yourself of before you do anything new. When you look in the mirror, you see mostly your flaws. You have a tendency to be self-deprecating to a point that sometimes can go too far. 

Insecurity is a powerful indicator that we’ve allowed energy to leak into our field that is either not serving us or not ours. It’s a natural feeling that occasionally emerges for us all, and as long as we acknowledge its existence and don't let it run (and ruin) our lives, insecurity acts as a valuable warning bell. The key is to not allow your inner critic to be the loudest voice in your mind. Speak to yourself the way you would to the one you love most in this world. 

You Decline Invitations 

Then try to make excuses to yourself about why you are not attending. So what if you feel like you’re ten pounds heavier than you want to be, feel younger than you are, or worry you will walk into a room where everyone else is somehow better than you? So what if it’s not really your crowd? This is your ego trying to keep you small and safe. Getting to know others is an act of generosity; relieve yourself of the burden of judgement, and go have some fun! 

You Assume You Will Be Judged 

We have all judged or been judged at some point in our lives. At a time when we have so much collective shame to release, judgement can make a fear of being seen harder than ever. What if they misunderstand me? What if I say the wrong thing? We have to understand that as long as we are judging, we are causing harm, even if that judgment is coming from a good place. Often we judge others because there is something within them that we see in ourselves.

You Observe More Than Share 

In conversations, do you find yourself doing more listening than sharing? Do you scroll more on social media or share? Rather than participating in games and events, do you find yourself sitting on the sidelines watching events unfold in front of your eyes? If your comfort zone is being the go-to person for other people’s processes, then it might be time to try sharing more about yourself. 

You Have a Hard Time Speaking Up When It Matters

As much as you may fantasize about or want to, when push comes to shove and someone is doing something atrocious to you or in front of you, do you stand up and say something? If you are really being honest with yourself and the answer is no, then consider conscious confrontation. 

But rather than go to war, clear issues up with the intention of truly creating peace. Pause, take a moment, and take a deep breath to reflect. Proceed with what your heart needs. If it’s another person to confront, proceed with their highest good and growth in mind. Say what is needed from a place of love. If peace can be achieved, welcome it…

After all angles of conscious confrontation are exercised, if peace is unattainable, so be it… this is where the patience, presence, and perseverance of being one’s own healer come in. Confrontation can be healing if we stop fearing it. Don’t let disruptive energies pull you off your path. See them for what they are, and keep shining, Bright Star.