Why You Should Say the Thing You’re Afraid to Say | Leslie John

In this episode, Leslie John explores why you should say the thing you’re afraid to say and how opening up can strengthen trust, deepen relationships, and improve our well-being. She explains why we’re often biased toward keeping things to ourselves, the hidden costs of holding back, and how to decide when sharing is worth the risk. Leslie also shares practical ways to become more aware of what we’re not saying, navigate difficult conversations, and reveal more of ourselves without crossing the line into sharing something we might regret. Good Wolf Reminders: A little wisdom, right when you need it. Start receiving free text reminders designed to help you pause, reflect, and take meaningful action. Sign up at ⁠oneyoufeed.net/sms.⁠ Key Takeaways: Why we often default to holding back without realizing it How opening up can build trust and deepen connection The hidden emotional and mental costs of keeping things to yourself Why we tend to overestimate the risks of saying what we really think or feel How to weigh the risks and benefits of speaking up versus staying silent Why understanding your “why” can help you decide what to share and with whom How putting difficult thoughts and feelings into words can make them more manageable Why validation can make difficult conversations more productive How sharing feelings instead of arguing over facts can reduce conflict Why revealing wisely is a skill you can strengthen with practice For full show notes, ⁠click here⁠! If you enjoyed this conversation with Leslie John, check out these other episodes: How We Can Improve Communication in Polarized Times with Charles Duhigg Oren Jay Sofer on Mindful Communication How to Unlock the Power of Deeper Connections with David Brooks This episode is sponsored by: ⁠⁠Pebl⁠⁠⁠ – an AI-powered platform that helps companies hire and manage global teams in 185+ countries. Get a free estimate at ⁠⁠⁠hipebl.ai⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Tiny Health⁠⁠⁠⁠‘s at-home gut health test provides science-backed insights into your microbiome, along with personalized recommendations to help you improve your digestion, energy, and overall well-being. Get $50 off your first test kit at⁠⁠⁠⁠ tinyhealth.com/FEED⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠ButcherBox:⁠ Make dinnertime easier with ButcherBox, delivering high-quality 100% grass-fed beef, organic chicken, wild-caught seafood, and more, right to your door. Get $20 off your first box, plus your choice of free ground beef for life or free chicken thighs or top sirloins for a year, with free shipping always. Visit ⁠ButcherBox.com/FEED⁠ to claim your offer. ⁠Talkiatry⁠⁠⁠⁠ connects you with licensed psychiatrists for personalized, evidence-based mental health care, all online and covered by most major insurance plans. To get matched with an in-network psychiatrist in just a few minutes, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠Talkiatry.com/FEED.⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices