Smiling Outside, Hurting Inside: Honesty Heals Within

Every day, countless Ghanaians — and people across the world — are silently suffering behind their smiles.

They show up to work, to weddings, to Sunday church, smiling and greeting as if everything is fine.
They take selfies with friends and family, laugh at jokes, and clap during praise and worship — but then go home and cry in the dark.
They say “I’m okay” out loud, while silently screaming inside.

In today’s world, especially in cultures like Ghana’s where emotions are still seen as weakness, being honest about your struggles feels dangerous. People fear being judged, misunderstood, or labeled as “dramatic,” “ungrateful,” or “unspiritual.”

So they pretend.

But pretending is not peace.
It is emotional suffocation.

And over time, the cost of wearing that emotional mask becomes unbearable. The longer people hide what they feel, the heavier their pain becomes.
The more we silence our emotions, the more disconnected we become from our true selves — and from the people who might be able to help.

Dr. David Rex Orgen has spent decades listening to people who suffer not because there’s no support, but because they’re afraid to ask for it.
Especially in homes where emotional expression is mocked, in churches where faith is used to silence trauma, and in leadership roles where strength is demanded, vulnerability becomes a private battle.

But here’s the truth: Honesty is not a weakness. It’s the beginning of healing.

When someone says, “I need help,” they are not breaking down — they are rising up.

Through his “Your Mind Matters” initiative, Dr. Orgen and his team at InspireMind Global are creating safe spaces where people can talk freely, be heard without shame, and begin to heal without fear.

It’s time to stop expecting people to suffer in silence.
It’s time to normalize emotional honesty — at home, in schools, in boardrooms, and in churches.

Let’s teach our children, leaders, and communities that it’s okay to be real.
Because sometimes, the most courageous thing you can do is simply say: “I’m not okay.”

📞 Partner with InspireMind Global to bring ‘Your Mind Matters’ safe space circles to your youth group, workplace, school, or church.
🌍 www.inspiremindglobal.com