Are You Being Honest With Yourself? The First Step to Real OCD & Anxiety Recovery

Are You Being Honest With Yourself? Transformative Questions for Personal Growth

At Restored Minds, we often discuss the keys to personal transformation—whether you’re navigating OCD, anxiety, panic attacks, or chronic stress. In this blog post inspired by Matt Codde, licensed clinical social worker and founder of Restored Minds, we’re exploring one of the most crucial (yet often uncomfortable) keys to change: being honest with yourself.

Why Self-Honesty Matters for Change

The journey to recovery or personal growth isn’t just about finding quick fixes. It’s about deep, lasting transformation. And that level of transformation starts with a simple but powerful question: Are you being honest with yourself? Are you living each day with true self-integrity, or are you stuck in denial and avoidance?

Denial can keep you trapped in unhealthy patterns—often for years. Minimizing your struggles or rationalizing them away (“It’s not that bad,” “I don’t have time,” “I’ll figure it out later…”) can allow those issues to quietly shape your life. The truth is: Real change can only start when you confront what’s truly going on in your life.

The Self-Inventory: Getting Real About Your Challenges

Matt Codde encourages taking a “moral inventory”—an honest assessment of the role anxiety, OCD, or fear may be playing in your life. Here are some thought-provoking questions to get you started:

• Is OCD, anxiety, panic, or stress impacting my ability to live the life I truly want?

• On a scale of 1-10, how much is this problem affecting me?

• If these struggles didn’t exist, how would my life look different?

• Am I thriving, or am I just surviving each day?

Think about relationships you may not pursue, jobs you’ve avoided, or opportunities you’re missing due to fear or compulsions. Honest answers to these questions create the foundation for actionable, sustainable change.

Facing the Excuses: “I Don’t Have Time” and “I Can Do This Alone”

A common barrier to progress is the belief that “I don’t have time” to address these challenges. The reality? You’re unlikely to ever feel like there’s a “perfect” time. Waiting for motivation usually means waiting forever. As Matt Codde says, you don’t need to feel ready to make change—you just need to be willing.

Another common roadblock is pride—the feeling you “should” be strong enough to figure everything out yourself. But lasting recovery isn’t a solo journey. Seeking support isn’t weakness; it’s a step toward real progress.

Reflection Prompts for Self-Honesty

Ready to disrupt your old patterns and move toward transformation? Ask yourself:

• What percentage of my life am I surviving vs. thriving?

• What’s preventing me from moving toward 100% thriving?

• If I haven’t found the time or resources yet, what’s truly stopping me?

• If I’m trying to do it alone, and it hasn’t worked, what needs to change?

• Where am I avoiding responsibility or minimizing my struggles?

Getting uncomfortable with these questions is actually a good thing. Discomfort is often the sign that real growth is about to happen.

The Path Forward: Transformation Begins With Truth

If you’ve been struggling with the same issues for months or even years, ask yourself honestly: Have your strategies worked so far? If not, repeating them will not deliver a different result.

Transformation requires new thinking, deeper self-honesty, and sometimes a willingness to ask for help. At Restored Minds, our goal isn’t just to make you feel better temporarily—it’s to help you live a life of thriving, not just surviving.

Take the First Step

The willingness to examine your life with honesty is disruptive—to your old patterns, to your excuses, and to your comfort zone. But that disruption is where your greatest growth lives.

If you’re ready to take real steps toward transformation, start with these questions. Don’t wait for the perfect moment or try to go it alone. If you’re looking for support, resources, or a community to guide you, visit restoredminds.com.

Remember: Real change begins the moment you’re honest with yourself.