This week’s piece is from guest writer Silo Rhodes. If you’ve ever sat with that moment—do I stay quiet or do I say the thing?—you’ll feel this. It’s honest, grounded, and full of the truth you can’t un-hear.
People don’t fear your voice because it’s wrong. They fear it because it makes them feel something they’ve spent years avoiding. This isn’t a piece about rebellion. It’s about alignment. Speaking truth. And honoring the fire that no longer burns you.
You’re Going to Say It Anyway, Aren’t You?
Over the years, I’ve heard a version of the same message more times than I can count:
“You probably shouldn’t say that.”
“Don’t post that.”
“It’s not worth the fallout.”
“You don’t have to tell everyone everything.”
“You’re going to say it anyway, aren’t you?”
Yes. I am.
But not for the reasons they think.
I Speak Because I Already Counted the Cost
It’s not because I need attention.
It’s not because I lack impulse control.
It’s not because I want to stir things up.
It’s because I’ve already sat with the potential consequences. I’ve weighed the silence. Checked my motives. Considered the timing. And still, I choose truth.
What many don’t see is that when I speak, I’m not reacting. I’m aligning.
And when the answer inside me is clear, I say it.
The Same People Who Warn Me Still Come to Me
What’s ironic is that the same people who urge me to stay quiet are often the ones who come to me in their darkest moments. They come for clarity. For honesty. For the kind of presence that doesn’t flinch when things get real.
They come to me because I speak freely. Because I don’t perform. Because I say the thing most people are afraid to say out loud.
But when I speak that same truth into their world or share it with the world at large, it becomes too much. Too bold. Too threatening.
It’s not that they don’t value my clarity. It’s that they’re not ready to feel the discomfort it brings.
They’re Not Protecting Me. They’re Protecting Themselves
A lot of the pushback I get isn’t about me. It’s about them. Their fears. Their traumas. Their relationships with silence.
They fear what my truth might cost me. So they try to protect me by telling me to stay quiet. But the truth is, they’re trying to protect themselves from watching someone choose freedom while they stay stuck in hesitation.
I’ve been there too. I know what it’s like to choose silence over self.
That’s why I don’t do it anymore.
Yes, It’s Cost Me. But It’s Given Me More
I’ve lost relationships.
I’ve lost comfort.
I’ve had people turn on me for simply refusing to lie to myself.
But I’ve gained self-respect. Peace. Real power. Alignment.
And no apology, no approval, no platform could replace what it feels like to know I’m standing in truth.
I don’t speak to be right. I speak to be free.
I Don’t Speak for Reactions. I Speak for Integrity
When I speak, I’m not trying to control the outcome. I’m not looking for applause or permission.
I’m speaking because not speaking would feel like betrayal.
I’m speaking because truth wants to move.
And when I feel that, I listen.
Sometimes, They’re Just Waiting to Say ‘I Told You So’
Here’s something most won’t admit.
Some people aren’t worried for me. They’re watching me, quietly waiting to see if I’ll suffer.
Because if I do, it validates their fear of speaking.
If I stumble, they get to say, “See, that’s why I don’t say anything.”
But if I rise? If I walk through it and still stay grounded?
Then they’re left with a new question.
What if I could have spoken too?
My Voice Isn’t Reckless. It’s Responsible
I’m not out here yelling into the void.
I’m not speaking just to be heard.
I speak because I’ve done the work. I’ve sat with my shadows. I’ve honored my process. I’ve healed. I’ve hurt. I’ve rebuilt.
And now, I don’t speak from pain. I speak from clarity.
If It Makes You Uncomfortable, That’s Okay
Not everyone is supposed to agree with me.
Not everyone is supposed to understand.
But if you feel something when I speak, if it stirs you, rattles you, even annoys you, it means it touched something alive in you.
And that’s not a bad thing.
That’s growth knocking.
I’m Not Here to Be Digested. I’m Here to Be Undeniable
So yes, I’m going to say it.
Not every time. Not without discernment.
But when it’s time, and when it’s real,
You can count on me to speak.
Even if it costs me something.
Even if you’re not ready to hear it.
Even if I stand alone.
Because I’d rather be real in silence than accepted in pretense.
And that’s the difference between saying something to be seen and saying something because your soul won’t let you stay silent any longer.
One Last Thing
If you’ve been quiet for too long…
If you’ve been waiting for the right moment to speak…
If you’ve been measuring your worth against someone else’s comfort…
Let this be the reminder:
Your voice is not a liability.
It’s a key.
To your freedom.
To your alignment.
To your peace.
You don’t need permission to be real.
Just the courage to let truth move through you.
And if the world isn’t ready for it, speak anyway.
Because the world you’re building is.
Big thanks to Silo Rhodes for sharing this powerful piece with Smiley Blue.
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