This blog started when one day I realized that I was living a double life.
At home, I was a jeans and t-shirt gal. I’d respond to jokes with a dirty-trucker laugh, and speak my opinion with the enthusiasm of a child’s first discovery of matches. I ’d be spontaneous, creative, loving and honest.
But at work, something had changed. I had become a white-washed, Wonder Bread version of my true self. I was toned-down, bland and artificial, like a corporate drone. But why? My more creative spontaneous, and driven qualities are what landed me the job in the first place.
What happened?
I don’t know exactly, but I have some ideas. For many people who land big corporate jobs, they quickly get cozy with steady hours and shiny benefits. They start to develop a false sense of security. Over time, work becomes more about maintaining that security than creating something great. They learn to minimize anything that could threaten their position (like personality or creative ideas) and stop contributing at their full potential.
Eventually I decided that the incongruency between my home life and work life was not okay and that contributing anything less than my best just wasn’t enough. I began asking myself some difficult questions like: what would happen if I started being %100 honest all the time, even at work?
Through my questioning I learned that what most people are afraid of–scarcity and uncertainty–are actually some of your greatest assets. Because they lead to innovation.
So, I started taking some risks, and those risks turned into entire projects:
The Truth Experiment (%100 honesty)
The first major risk I took was committing not to tell a lie (not even a “white” lie) for a whole year. It has been uncomfortable, awkward, thrilling and fulfilling, all at the same time.
Beautiful Uncertainty (documentary)
All the honesty from the Truth Experiment uncovered a buried desire I didn’t know I had. The desire to sell most of my belongings, buy a van and travel the west coast to do a web-based documentary on authenticity, self-awareness and living a life in line with one’s deepest values.
Thank you for stopping by my site. I am happy to answer your questions or help you in your endeavors in any way that I can. Feel free to contact me via email, twitter (@soulfulcontrary) or follow me on G+
Your work seems wonderful: location interdependence is underrated.
Thanks Mark! Agreed
Great work! I am enjoying the blog and started the excercise. Thank you
I’m so very excited to participate with you in your journey! Location independence is a reality in my mind’s eye every day – hope to meet you on the road! (Incidentally, the West Coast is one of my favorite places in the whole wide world – and I’ve lived in south of France
I wish you luck on your journey to completing these projects. I love how organized your blog is. And also, thanks for following me
love this!
Best of luck with your wonderful blog and journey.
Methinks that journey of honesty and self-truth, plus disclosure to others, sometimes needs the friendly help of a professional –a counsellor, etc.
Seriously. The depressed person can reach the wrong conclusions and take their own life. I’m sorry to be so serious, but I have lost dear loved one in this way. Those who loved her the most, had no idea the depth of her lonely journey.
I will disclose this much as an alert particularily for those who are having a tough time but want to take the journey or know someone who could use help.
Jean, I absolutely agree with you, and I’m glad you brought this to attention. Much of my truth-digging I’ve already done in the past with the guide of a qualified therapist.
I strongly hope that u can afford another admirer in ur beautiful life.
Stay Blessed
Jeej, I’m follower 400!
I love your posts, keep up the good work! 
hnnn, well formed ‘About’. Actually, I like it.
And, I love your glasses.
I have been reading the Freshly Pressed page for about a year and a half now and have not once come across a blog that would truly touch me, not until today that is. I am so grateful this was Freshly Pressed.
I admire the place in you where your writings come from. It’s a place of depth, of honesty and of humility. I think you are absolutely beautiful, Lindsey. Search for meaning, happiness and fulfillment is such a long journey, but I am sure it’ll take you to amazing places.
Stay true and keep writing. You are inspiring.
Thank you so much for your kind and thoughtful response! I looooved your post “The Tale of Jack Tripper. What You Can Learn From the Eyeless Cat.” Beautifully written
Let’s keep in touch!
~Linds
Cute blog! Congrats on being Freshly Pressed.
brave, but I wonder will the honesty be genuine or motivated for the writing – it is a fine line it feels like for truth; some hold back from me to not hurt my feelings but then it hurts just as much to keep the distance and ignore and hope it will go away – some people don’t want to hear the truth unless asked…
Thanks for the follow, I’m relatively new to the blogging world. I’m still finding my way around. Congrats on making Freshly Pressed! Take care!
I completely agree with 100% Honesty. I believe everyone deserves to know the truth although it might be hurtful sometimes, but lies are more hurtful than the truth. Gaining self-awareness is the most difficult one. I wrote a report about myself. I will post one day.
Nice blog!
I’m so moved by you that I’ve nominated your blog for that 7X7 Link Award that’s floating around WordPress. I think you’re great.
Oh, Thank You!!! What is that?
Good Job
i will try to keep following your thought
this is AWESOME. i hope to try the truth experiment over the next year
Love your self-expression. It’s producing a positive effect on a lot of readers. We need to be assertive in speaking our mind so that we can influence others to do the same.
Cheers!
This is such an interesting concept.
This is fascinating. I will definitely be following this to see how you do. (I’ve also linked to you from my own blog since I was creating a list of blogs I enjoy there. I hope you don’t mind?)
You really are an inspiration. The honesty project, and the idea of going cross country with this is just… wow. Keep us posted. : )
thanks for subscribing! I love you writing and your blog! hope you can give me some tips !
Wow! I hadn’t been to Google+ in awhile. I only came here after following a trail from your facebook account. Now you have also inspired me to write my first reply (unless I did one that I don’t remember) on Google+. You were so quiet on Saturday night when I met you, but you write so fluidly. I left my corporate job (I managed 60 people in a call center for a major hoteel chain) in June of 2005. Over the last 7 years I have been shedding myself of ‘things’ for the last 7 years to live a minimalist life. I now work when I want to work repairing computers. I dance every chance I get!
Dear Lindsey,
I love your blog – your posts and honest and filled with real life in all its beauty and difficulty! You are a strong and brave person, and it makes me happy to know that there are people like you out there. For this reason, I am nominating you for the Versatile Blogger Award!
For all details, please see the following link:
http://l0ve0utl0ud.wordpress.com/2012/01/11/versatile-blogger-award/
With love
HEY!
I have nominated you for a VERSATILE BLOGGER AWARD!
Here are the DEETS: Post the .jpg of the award in a post or on your blog; mention the person(s) who nominated you; offer up seven things about yourself; nominate 15 other bloggers and let them know they’ve been nominated.
YAY!