Wearing your opinion out loud means some people won’t like you. Hiding it means nobody really knows you.

Being liked by everybody requires being slightly blank, and blankness works, because nobody objects to it. The cost shows up later, when you notice the people around you are fond of a version of you with nothing specific in it. Opinions sort people, which feels like loss and is mostly a filter. You trade broad mild approval for a smaller number who actually know you.

Say one real thing this week where you would normally agree to keep things smooth. Watch who leans in rather than who goes quiet. Those are the people worth more of your time.