Unseen Wounds

We live in a world where everyone wears masks — some worn out of necessity, others out of fear.

These masks blur the lines between who people really are and who they show to the world.

Why is it so hard to see the truth in others?

Because truth is messy.

It’s wrapped in pain, shame, hope, and fear.

It’s buried beneath years of stories they tell themselves and others.

Sometimes, the truth is uncomfortable.

It forces us to confront parts of ourselves we’d rather ignore.

It challenges our judgments and assumptions.

And so, we glance at the surface —

the smiles, the anger, the silence —

and decide that’s enough.

We don’t dig deeper.

We don’t ask the hard questions.

We don’t listen beyond the noise.

But what if we did?

What if we paused our assumptions, lowered our defenses, and looked with open hearts?

What if we allowed space for the cracks and the shadows, not just the polished image?

To see the truth in others requires courage.

Courage to be vulnerable.

Courage to hold space for their pain without trying to fix it.

Courage to love even when it’s hard.

The truth in others is often hidden in their silence, their fears, their mistakes.

It’s in the parts they try to hide, not the parts they proudly display.

When we choose to see the whole — the broken and the beautiful —

we create connection.

We build bridges.

We begin to heal.

Reflection:

• When was the last time you truly saw someone — beyond their surface?
• How can you practice more empathy toward those whose truths are hidden?