Sing like no-one is listening.

So... One of the things I struggle with is the negative things from my past. Not in that they are plaguing me, but because I cannot talk about them.

Some things, obviously, you cannot just open a conversation with, and you'd probably never share them with Joe Bloggs anyway, but there are people with whom you feel you should be able to share them but can't because their default setting is 'get over it already'.

If I need to work out some troubling issue I'll do it with my counsellor or partner, but having done that you feel free (within yourself) to talk about it because doing so empowers you - you are no longer afraid of it and you demonstrate this to yourself by talking about it.

The trouble is that for one reason or another these things make people uncomfortable. Either because it's a topic they find difficult or because it makes them feel guilt for whatever reason.

It's frustrating that those close to you think you're clinging to the past when in actual fact you're moving past it. They want you to forget those things, pretend they didn't exist. But those things are part of you, they helped shape who you are, how can people expect you to simply 'delete' whole chunks of your life because it will make them feel better?

So... How do we overcome? How do we get people who should care about us to listen? How can we make them understand that a short term feeling of uncomfortableness for them can mean a massive leap forward for us to permanently feel comfortable with ourselves?