I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how we see life through our own lens. How easy it is to adjust the tint to suit the story we want to tell—or the one we’re trying to avoid.
Because the truth is, when we keep those glasses on, we keep ourselves from seeing what’s real.
The Comfortable Distortion
When I was living in the dark, I wore every shade of tinted glasses you can imagine. I’d change the lens to match my mood, my fears, or the lies I was telling myself.
Reality? I didn’t want to face it. It was too painful. Too overwhelming. Too raw.
So I hid. I convinced myself that my version of the story—my distorted, safer version—was enough. I ignored the cracks in my life, the hurt I was causing myself and others, and I justified it all with the filters I chose to wear.
But eventually, the truth caught up with me. And when it did, I realized how small and dark my world had become.
Taking Off the Glasses
It wasn’t easy. Seeing life without those filters meant facing the choices I’d made, the damage I’d done, and the lies I’d told. It meant admitting that I was the one holding myself back.
But in that hard truth, I found something I hadn’t expected: hope.
I discovered that even when the view was painful, it was honest. It was real. And it gave me a path forward.
As I began my journey of recovery, I learned to live in reality. To lean on others who were also learning to live in their truth. To reach out for help when my reality felt overwhelming.
And over time, I realized that reality—messy, uncomfortable, imperfect—is where life really happens.
Seeing Life Clearly
These days, I still feel the temptation to slip those tinted glasses back on when life gets hard. But I remind myself that hiding doesn’t solve anything. It just keeps me stuck.
Reality can be painful. But it’s also where growth lives. It’s where connections deepen, where healing begins, and where we finally get to see ourselves—truly see ourselves.
And the more I practice living in the clear, the more I realize how much beauty there is in truth.
SLAY on.
SLAY OF THE DAY: Reflect & Rise
Do you tend to hide behind tinted glasses to avoid facing your truth?
What fears or stories are you using those lenses to cover up?
What might your life look like if you took them off today?
How can you begin practicing honesty with yourself and those around you?
What’s one small step you can take today to start living in the clear?
Call to Action: Join the Conversation
I’d love to hear from you.
What’s one truth you’re ready to face today?
Share your story in the comments. Let’s cheer each other on.
And if you know someone who’s struggling to see reality, send this to them.
Sometimes, a small nudge is all it takes to lift the veil.
