When my husband and I go hiking, we end up talking about random things…often life lessons that mirror the trail itself. Many of them are harsh truths no one seems to say anymore. I’m not afraid to say the things that may hurt your feelings tho. I find no joy in lying to make others feel better. The life you dream of won’t be handed to you just because you want it. No matter your generation, you’ll get knocked down. You’ll have lessons to learn. That doesn’t stop, even decades into your timeline.

We all face hard truths. But lately, my social media feeds are filled with people living in fairy tales or outright being lied to. There’s been a lot of coddling these past few years, a lot of softening reality so it feels “safe.” That’s not doing anyone favors. Yes, mindset matters, it shapes how you live, but mindset can’t erase reality. It’s about facing what is and choosing your response, not pretending “what is” doesn’t exist.

If you’re overly sensitive and would rather be lied to, this post isn’t for you. But if you want real talk, here are 10 truths you need to stop ignoring:

1. Not many people actually care what you’re doing. Stop living to impress people who probably aren’t paying attention.
2. Your biggest cheerleader should be YOU. If you need constant validation to move forward, you’re doing the wrong thing.
3. Life doesn’t get easier, you get tougher. Do hard things. Fail forward. Repeat.
4. You’re not special. Not money, not status, not title…being human is the great equalizer.
5. Your purpose is happiness. If what you’re doing isn’t bringing joy, change it. Others’ opinions don’t outweigh your reality.
6. People will always have an opinion. Explaining yourself is wasted energy. Live your life.
7. Nobody can “make” you feel anything. Your emotions are your responsibility. Take your power back.
8. You must put yourself first. A tired, burned-out you is no good to anyone. Model self-care for your kids.
9. Your parents aren’t your safety net forever. Learn to stand on your own.
10. You are replaceable. Stop living for a job or society expectations that will forget about you soon after your gone.

These are not “negative” statements, they’re simply truths. And when we stop denying them, they lose their sting. Accepting reality for what it is allows us to shift our mindset in ways that actually serve us, rather than wasting energy trying to rewrite the rules of life.

For too long, we’ve coddled people into believing that discomfort equals harm, or that disagreement is a personal attack. We’ve blurred the lines between emotional validation and expecting the world to bend to our will. But when we demand that others agree with us just to feel safe, we erase their own lived truths, and that’s not okay.

The last few years have shown us the dangers of living in an echo chamber. The constant need to be liked, validated, and agreed with has stalled growth for many. But growth doesn’t happen in agreement; it happens in tension, in discomfort, and in being challenged to see beyond ourselves.

The real magic of being human is that we are all different, our values, our histories, and our perspectives are uniquely our own. It’s unrealistic to expect universal agreement, and it’s a waste of precious time to try. Instead of bending reality to fit your ideal, strengthen your mindset to work with the reality that already exists.

So here’s the question worth asking yourself: Are you living in the real world, where differences make us richer and stronger, or in a dream world where you believe everyone should think, feel, and act the same way you do? One will keep you stuck. The other will set you free.

Thank you for being here! Please use the form below if you feel pulled to buy me a coffee or my best fur friend a treat in exchange for the work I do here! Also, you can find mine and my husbands hiking journeys and other adventures on YouTube “Chris & Kris Field Trips” at the following link: https://www.youtube.com/@ChriNKris