The Things I Couldn’t Say Out Loud: For the One Who’s Tired of Pretending and Ready to Heal for Real: The Break Free Series, #4

By Lila Rosewood

"The Things I Couldn't Say Out Loud" is a powerful, heartfelt journey through the hidden struggles many of us face but are too afraid to share. Whether it's guilt, shame, or unspoken pain, this book speaks directly to those who feel stuck in silence, offering comfort, healing, and a way forward.

If you've ever felt like you're carrying too much on your own or pretending everything is fine when it's not, this book is for you. It's time to stop hiding behind the mask and embrace your true, whole self. The Things I Couldn't Say Out Loud is your invitation to heal, break free from the weight of your past, and discover the freedom that comes with living fully alive—no longer shackled by guilt or shame.

This book doesn't just talk about your struggles; it helps you rewrite the story. With warmth, vulnerability, and a little bit of sass, you'll find hope and healing as you step into the life you were always meant to live.

Are you ready to stop pretending and start healing for real?

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lila Rosewood
• Release date: Apr 23, 2025
• ISBN: 9798230262329

Lila Rosewood

Introducing Lila Rosewood, a multifaceted soul with a passion for storytelling and a heart for impacting lives. As a devoted mother of two and a dedicated secondary school teacher, Lila Rosewood embodies the essence of nurturing and education both in her personal and professional life. Fuelled by boundless creativity, Lila Rosewood finds solace and joy in various artistic pursuits, from crafting captivating graphics to pouring her heart onto canvas, and weaving intricate narratives through the art of writing. Her imagination knows no bounds, with a treasury of a thousand stories waiting to be unveiled to the world. But beyond mere entertainment, Lila Rosewood harbors a deeper purpose for her storytelling. With a desire to edify and inspire, she seeks to impart valuable lessons that resonate with the human spirit and spark positive change. Rooted in her Christian faith, Lila Rosewood endeavors to uplift God's name in all she does, infusing her tales with faith-driven messages that speak to the soul. Through her writings, Lila Rosewood aspires to touch hearts, illuminate minds, and leave an indelible mark on those who journey through the realms of her imagination. Join her as she embarks on a mission to weave stories that transcend entertainment, offering glimpses of hope, wisdom, and divine grace.

Book preview

Introduction: Let’s Get Real

You ever get that feeling like there’s something inside you that you just can’t say out loud?

Not because it’s not true—but because it’s too true. Too heavy. Too complicated. Too much. So, instead of sharing it, we smile, nod, do the dishes, answer emails, post cute selfies, and say, I’m good when someone asks how we’re doing.

Except... we’re not always good.

This book? It’s not here to fix you. It’s not a how-to manual, and I promise I’m not here with a clipboard and a checklist trying to get your life in order. You’ve probably had enough of that. This is more like a conversation you didn’t know you needed—the kind that makes you exhale and say, Finally. Someone gets it.

Here’s the truth most of us are living with, whether we want to admit it or not: we carry stuff inside we’re too afraid to say out loud. Shame, guilt, regret, pain from the past, stuff we thought we should be over by now, and things we can’t even name. It all just... sits there. Quiet. Heavy. And the silence? It starts to feel normal.

But deep down, we know something’s off. We know we’re not really living—we’re just surviving. We feel stuck. And stuck doesn’t always look like a disaster. Sometimes it looks like high-functioning exhaustion, a full calendar, a perfectly curated Instagram page, a busy job, or even faithful Sunday attendance. You can do all of that and still feel hollow inside.

Here’s the kicker: you’re not broken. You’re human. There’s a difference.

You’re not the only one wrestling with thoughts you can’t quite say. You’re not the only one who wakes up in the middle of the night with a knot in your chest. And you’re definitely not the only one who has questioned your worth, your past, your decisions, or whether God could still look at you with love after what you’ve been through.

Let’s be honest for a second.

Maybe you’ve done things you’re not proud of. Maybe something happened to you and you’ve never really said how much it hurt. Maybe you’re carrying secrets, or shame, or some mess you thought you buried years ago but it keeps finding new ways to haunt you.

Or maybe it’s not any one big thing. Maybe it’s just the slow buildup of years spent pretending. Playing roles. Saying what you’re supposed to say. Doing what you’re supposed to do. Living a life that kind of fits—but doesn’t quite feel like yours anymore.

And somewhere in all of that pretending, you started to lose the sound of your own voice.

Well, friend, let me say this loud and clear: you’re allowed to take the mask off.

You’re allowed to stop pretending you’ve got it all together.

You’re allowed to feel the things you’ve been pushing down for way too long.

You’re allowed to heal. For real. Without shame.

And you’re allowed to still believe in love, in grace, in healing, in God—even if your story is complicated.

This book isn’t going to give you five easy steps to freedom. Let’s be honest—life doesn’t work like that. What it will do is walk beside you. It’ll tell you the truth when shame tries to lie to you. It’ll remind you that what you’ve been through doesn’t disqualify you. And it’ll help you start the process of letting go—not of your story, but of the guilt that’s been glued to it.

You are not alone in this. I know that’s cliché, but some clichés are true—and this one could not be truer.

We’ve all got stuff. And this book isn’t here to pry it open or force a confession. This is a gentle nudge, a safe space, and a hand on your shoulder that says, Hey. You’re seen. You’re safe. And you’re stronger than you think.

Let me also say this, respectfully and with love: God is not scared of your mess. He’s not pacing the floor waiting for you to fix yourself before you come to Him. He’s not covering His eyes or shaking His head in disappointment. If you’ve ever been told that grace has limits, I want you to know right now: it doesn’t. The love of God runs deeper than your worst mistake and louder than your deepest silence.

So here’s what you can expect as we move through these chapters together:

We’ll talk about shame—not to wallow in it, but to expose it for the lying, manipulative mess it is.

We’ll talk about guilt—not the kind that leads to punishment, but the kind that can be turned into growth.

We’ll talk about healing—not the Instagram version, but the real, raw, sometimes-ugly journey of becoming whole.

And we’ll talk about freedom—not just the external kind, but the deep internal kind. The kind where you start to breathe again. Laugh again. Hope again.

Sound good?

Then let’s begin.

Take a deep breath. Let the walls down. You don’t have to be perfect here.

Just present.

And that? That’s more than enough.

Chapter One: The Smile That Lies

We’ve all done it.

That polite nod. That practiced grin. That, I’m fine, said with just enough pep to shut down any follow-up questions.

You’ve probably nailed it by now—smiling through situations that would’ve broken someone else. Holding it together when everything in you wants to fall apart. Showing up for work, family, church, the group chat, the kids, the calendar—when honestly, you barely showed up for yourself.

We smile because it’s easier. Because people expect it. Because we were taught somewhere along the way that strength looks like silence. That being okay is what makes us lovable, admirable, respectable. And let’s be real—it’s hard to unlearn that.

But what if I told you that smile might be lying for you?

Now, before you roll your eyes or get defensive—hold on. I’m not saying your smile is fake. I’m saying it’s tired. Worn out. Overworked. Doing way too much emotional labor for someone who deserves to be held, not hidden.

See, somewhere along the line, many of us picked up the idea that pain is something to be polished over. That sadness makes us weak. That struggle is something to be fixed quickly and privately, preferably without making anyone uncomfortable. Especially not God. Especially not your mama. Especially not your