Key 6: Sincerity
page 107 in the Starting Over Guide
Sincerity is more than honesty. It’s about being real, even when it’s uncomfortable. In Starting Over, Sincerity means dropping the mask, owning what you feel, and learning to speak from a place of truth. Not performative truth. Not what you think people want to hear. But the kind of truth that frees you. It’s a shift from hiding to showing up.
“The truth will set you free. But first, it will make you miserable.”
— James A. Garfield
Reflection Prompts
Take time to write, reflect, or sit with these questions. You can answer privately or share in the comments below.
- What truths about yourself have you been avoiding or sugarcoating?
- How often do you speak honestly about what you’re feeling—first to yourself, then to others?
- What are you afraid might happen if you’re completely sincere?
- What would change if you stopped editing your truth to be more acceptable?
Closing Notes
Being sincere doesn’t mean being perfect. It means being honest: first with yourself, then with the world around you. Recovery deepens when you stop hiding from the truth and start speaking from it.
