Alright, let's get something straight, my fiery friend. Choosing not to come forward now or ever doesn't mean you're backstabbing yourself, giving the bad guys a free pass, or selling your soul to the devil.

Always remember: people love drama, they just can't resist a good ol' soap opera and, would absolutely just love to yank your emotional chain for an Oscar-worthy performance. But who pays the price? (Hint: It ain't them. (Mostly because they'll be watching from the sidelines, popcorn in hand.)

Now don't get me wrong. I'm a big fan of a grand entrance, a firework show, stirring the pot, and making a scene. BUT, it's gotta be worth the price of admission, because believe me, there's always a cost. This is precisely why we look for validation from others. And also why we should never let the peanut gallery make the call for us.

Some good folks will tell you to trust your gut, but me? I say, “trust your inner outlaw,” mostly because sometimes you need to talk to the “I’m-done-giving-a-shit” part of you inside who knows everything you know, but CAN legit tell you when it’s time to say “Hell yes, let’s do this!,” or “Nope, these clowns ain't worth it.”

Trusting this renegade inside you is like being on a rollercoaster ride. It's a helluva ride deciding when to stick up for yourself, when to let things slide, when to take a leap of faith, or when to inch away from the edge like it's a sleeping dragon. (You know about my love for dragons, right?) The worst part? Thinking, "I can't say anything. They're the Goliath to my David."

And it doesn't stop there. The mind games continue, “People are going to call me a liar,” “People are going to say if it was that bad I wouldn’t have stayed, or I liked it, and am only coming forward now because I have some beef,” “People are going to think that I’m going to talk about other things I’ve seen, or other people’s secrets, and I’m going to lose relationships I don’t want to lose,” “Maybe I should just let it go,” “Has too much time passed?”

But listen up, your inner outlaw, that gutsy, feisty part of you, is leaps and bounds sharper than your conscious mind. It knows exactly when there’s a genuine threat and you need to jet, when to duck and cover, or when it's time for you to flip the script and show the world the hell you’ve endured.

Standing up to anyone is a full-blown act of defiance, especially in this day and age. If it were a breeze, we'd all be duking it out left, right, and center. Okay, why did I suddenly see the Family Guy Kingsman clip flash through my mind when I wrote that? (Probably because there will always be someone with a beef about something you say or do that doesn’t jive with their worldview. And guess what? So be it. That’s THEIR problem, not yours.)

Instead, we often put other people’s thoughts and feelings on a pedestal, while ours get pushed aside. We doubt ourselves, we make excuses for others, even when it’s killing us inside. Even when it’s gotten to the point where we’re just going through all the motions of life, but not actually LIVING one.

We never entertain the idea that maybe, just maybe, WINNING THE BATTLE OF PUBLIC OPINION IS NOT MORE IMPORTANT THAN WINNING THE HEART OF THE PERSON STARING BACK AT YOU IN THE MIRROR. Perhaps it's because we've seen so many self-centered fools exploit every opportunity for attention. And before we know it, standing up for ourselves is painted as a cry for attention, instead of the way to bury our personal demons.

But, what if you ARE right? What if standing up for yourself IS the gateway to personal peace and meaningful change?

Even if you don’t think you think it, all of this boils down to wondering deep down if you’re good enough for others.. if the rest of the world will still have your back if you say or do something they don’t like.

Instead of wondering about whether you’re good enough for them, it's high time to start wondering if they’re good enough for you.

Your inner outlaw? Never has an ulterior motive.