Let the World See You: How to Be Real in a World Full of Fakesናሙና

Hiding isn’t healthy. It hurts both the one who hides and whatever (or whoever) he or she is hiding from. I’m learning now to name my emotions: fear, anger, shame, joy, excitement. I’m also learning to be open and to be myself. I’ve heard it said that when you hide one emotion, you hide them all. You cannot choose which emotions you cut yourself off from. If you try to cut off fear, you’ll cut off joy as well. It’s the way we’re wired. It’s how we were created. So I’m learning not to hide my emotions anymore and to be myself in every circumstance. And the benefits, both on and off the football field, have been endless. I’m free. I’m me. And I’m a breath of fresh air to those around me. . . .

In 2018, four weeks into my eighth season as an NFL linebacker, I tore a pectoral muscle and my season was over. As soon as I heard the news from the doctor, I was devastated, and tears came to my eyes. My first reaction, honestly, was to find the nearest restroom stall. I actually started walking there so no one would see me cry. But . . . I stopped in the hallway, a few yards short of the restroom, and cried. Right then and there. And I was seen by both my teammates and the staff of the Chicago Bears.

Much to my surprise, I wasn’t judged. I wasn’t condemned. I was loved. They sat with me. They mourned with me. They cried with me. They saw me, the real me, and that honesty was a breath of fresh air to the people around me. Their response was similar to others I’d gotten before: “Nice to see you, Sam. Nice to see you.” . . .

Hiding in the restroom stall is never the answer. Neither is hiding within yourself. We are meant to be seen, known, and loved. We are created by a master craftsman who wants us to show the world who we are. He wants us to shine.