Why am I afraid to tell you who I am?

by John Powell

John Powell applies his valuable insights into self-awareness and interpersonal communication to help us develop self-esteem and improve our relationships with others. We all fear rejection. We are afraid that people will not like us if they know what we are really like, so we often assume poses to avoid being honest with them and with ourselves. Powell identifies five levels of communication and suggests that the kinds of information we disclose determine the level of depth of our relationships. Who are you? Are you the “Know-it-all”? Are you a “body beautiful”? Are you “the clown,” “the competitor,” the cynic,” or one of the many other characters people portray to protect themselves? Only when we face our fears openly and honestly can we learn to like ourselves and trust that others will accept us as we really are.