Throughout this series on telling your truth, I’ve been separating the biological fear you may have been conditioned to feel from what is in fact the reality of the situation you face. Once you’ve assessed the genuine risks to your well-being, the question becomes how to protect yourself in real life. The practical, boots-on-the-ground steps you can take to increase your security, and equanimity, to set yourself up for the best outcome if the repercussions you’re afraid of end up happening.

If, for example, your fear is that you will face a financial risk by being honest, then you need to consider cultivating other sources of income, getting a part-time job, or learning extra skills. You might look into further education or credentials. So too, it’s always a good idea to get more informed, to know what’s going on with the finances, how much money there is, where it is, and how it’s managed… and how you could access it. The more information you have, the more prepared, protected and safer you are.

It’s also always wise to find someone to talk to who can counsel you on your options. Find out the facts—what’s true in the real world, not just your mind. This might entail speaking with an attorney, financial advisor, women’s rights organization, or maybe a friend who’s been through something similar. The point is, ask for help from someone who’s trustworthy and informed; it’s important to bring in different energy and ideas. You do this not just to gather information, but to get out of your own head and break the cycle of catastrophic thinking. Information is power. Don’t stay in the dark, as it not only feels unsafe and scary, but it leaves you........

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