What are You Preaching?
I’ve been somewhat of a hypocrite. I write these blog posts showing how to change your life for the better – to be happy, but I’ve been slipping and sliding all over the place as I’m doing it.
That’s life, though, we have ups and downs, happy times and sad times. That’s living.
Have I been living what I’m preaching in these blog posts? Not all of it.
Fear has been the gatekeeper to my happiness. When we learn as kids to be on guard all the time to protect ourselves, we develop a sensitivity to that as adults, so much so that we develop anxiety, phobias, and live with fear.
Anxiety Is Everywhere
Look at us. I think more than half the world’s population lives with anxiety and fear, especially now. The other folks might have been lucky to have a great support system, or they could be doing the best they can, leaning on meds, alcohol, or drugs to make life bearable, or maybe there are some people capable of turning off the part of their brain that feels pain.
Then there is a slim group of folks who are healed and live life intentionally, happy, and at peace. That’s the life I aspire to live.
It doesn’t matter if you are rich or poor; anxiety can affect anyone.
Guess what else anxiety can do? It causes folks to act in strange ways that harm themselves and other people.
Anxious people put others on edge, especially those folks who think they know what’s best for everyone else, and their judgments prevent honest, healthy relationships. As I’m typing this, I’m seeing the irony because I’m preaching what I know and believe in the good of these blog posts. But there’s a big difference. I’m writing to heal, not to harm.
Following the Fear
So many of us preach what our fears tell us. And that can get worse as we get older. When someone thinks they know better than someone else, they are invalidating that person’s choices. If everyone listened to fearful naysayers about what they’re doing wrong, we wouldn’t have the inventions, art, music, writing, and creations we get to experience.
Yes, I’m a live-and-let-live kind of person with a few “conditions” (don’t harm yourself or others). That’s noble, not judgmental. I’ve been around the block many times in my life, working through life’s problems and pain, and now understand what it takes to heal and face life stronger and more in control. Because a strong rope can carry a lot.
If you’re willing and able to see yourself honestly and face your pain, you’re on the path to healing. Acknowledgement is the precursor to healing. We can get a cut on our skin, and if it doesn’t hurt at first, we might not notice it. Then a few days later, if we see it, acknowledge it’s there, or God forbid, bump it, well, now the pain is terrible!
But it heals. It gets better. New cells made the area tougher than before. Our minds can heal, too, creating mental toughness. We learn. We get better.
The Well Is Full
As of late, I’ve been thinking I’m wasting my time writing these blog posts and that I should focus on publishing the books I’ve written and writing the books still inside me, but I feel compelled to write these. When we learn valuable knowledge and wisdom, it’s okay to share it. Maybe someone needs to see what I write. I write what I would have wanted to read when I was younger and in so much pain.
I appreciate those who want to heal. Those are my people.
Don’t Put Off Today
If you’re preaching to everyone (and what I mean by preaching is what you speak, how you live your life, how you conduct yourself, the whole gamut of our lives), a false narrative of who you are because you’re afraid to show yourself, I want you to do a simple thing.
Stop what you’re doing.
Breathe.
Take a few minutes alone to envision your ideal life, your ideal self.
Focus on that for a few seconds and notice how it makes you feel. Do you feel calmer, happier? Do your shoulders drop, and a slight grin forms on your lips? If so, that’s your truth, who you are, and meant to be.
Beginning now, today, be that person. No matter what happens or what reality looks like right now, be that person in mind, body, and spirit. Sure, it takes discipline, but discipline is simply doing something we’re not used to, and the more we do it, the easier it becomes.
The hardest part is overcoming the initial pain that any change causes. But hey, that pesky caterpillar goes through an incredible (and probably painful) metamorphosis to become a beautiful flying creature who can now soar and go wherever they want faster and easier.
We’re worth the discomfort to soar.
Sum Up
Start today. It’s never too late to change for the better. Life is about evolving and taking chances to live our best lives. If we settle for what was and has always been because it feels comfortable and safe, we’ll never grow or live up to our true potential. We were all born for a reason. Don’t we owe it to ourselves to figure out what that is and live it? Preach your best life.
Thank you for reading. Please let me know how this resonates with you and if you found any helpful information. I’d appreciate reading that.
To doing the right preaching,
Francesca
© 2026 FrancescaME | All rights reserved.
NO AI TRAINING: Any use of this publication to “train” generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to generate text is expressly prohibited. The author reserves all rights to license uses of this work for generative AI training and development of machine learning language models.
FrancescaME is not a therapist or doctor, and any information shared is from personal experience, learning, and research.
If you’re suffering, please consult a mental health therapist for help. Just as our bodies need to see a doctor when we’re not well, our minds need care, too.
Call 988 if you’re in crisis. (Languages: English, Spanish -Available 24 hours)
