11 Things You Should Always Keep Private About Your Life - Olubunmi Mabel

I don’t know about you, but the internet has incredibly blessed me!

You are reading this blog post because you can access the internet, right?

And that’s just one of the amazing things it has brought into our lives—easy access to information and connection with people all around the world.

But with great power comes great responsibility, as they say.

The internet may have made our lives easier in many ways, but it has also opened us up to a level of vulnerability.

With every click and keystroke, we are literally sharing pieces of ourselves online.

Privacy is a precious commodity in this digital age where oversharing has become the norm.

With just one click, we can share our thoughts, photos, and personal information with thousands of people.

But before you hit the “post” button or send out that tweet, let’s consider what aspects of our lives should be kept private.

 11 Things You Should Always Keep Private About Your Life

1. Your Home Address 

Your home is your sanctuary, a place where you should feel safe and secure. 

I recently saw a video online of obsessed fans of Justin Bielber waiting for him outside his home and requesting a hug.

He politely addressed them and said it wasn’t cool that they came to his home, his safe place, where he retreats to after a long day.

Even after his ‘speech,’ the creepy fans still requested a hug. 

Can you imagine feeling like you can’t even go home without being bombarded by strangers? 

Now, imagine what happens when you publicize your home address.

Not only do you open yourself up to unwanted visitors, but you also risk your safety and security, especially if you live in a country where personal security is not guaranteed.

So, it’s best to keep this information private and only share it with close friends, family, and others when necessary. 

2. Your past

If you love to inspire others, like me, it’s natural to want to talk about your past experiences as a lesson or motivation for others. 

Your past is a collection of experiences, decisions, and memories that have shaped who you are today.

However, wisdom is knowing that not everything needs to be shared, especially with people who may not understand or appreciate the context.

We all have moments we aren’t proud of, mistakes, failures, or situations that were beyond our control.

I have mine, and some still haunt me, or I try not to let them haunt me. lol

So, sharing too much about your past, especially the more painful or complicated parts, can sometimes give people the wrong impression.

They might hold your past against you, even if you’ve grown and changed since then.

So, keeping your past private also allows you to move forward without being constantly reminded of who you used to be.

I’m not saying hoard your past and never use it to inspire others because I understand that sharing our stories can bring a sense of connection and healing.

But be selective in what you choose to share and always consider the potential consequences before opening up about your past.

Also, consider the intention behind sharing your past.

Are you seeking validation, attention, connection, healing, or as a tool for personal growth?

Just know what you are doing.

3. Your Income

There are many content creators who go around asking people how much money they make.

While some people see this as a source of motivation, others comment on how weird it is for people to disclose their financial information.

This shows that money is a sensitive and personal topic, even in marriage. 

4. Your family problems and secrets 

Just because people don’t talk about their family problems or secrets doesn’t mean they don’t exist.

Every family has their fair share of wahala.

I get that some families can be really toxic, and you sometimes want to vent, but it takes wisdom to know who, when, and where to share such intimate details with.

Family problems and secrets are so diverse that I’m at a loss for examples, but the bottom line is: Don’t share private family issues that will bring shame or disgrace to your loved ones or jeopardize their privacy.

You wouldn’t want someone doing that to you, so extend the same courtesy to your family members.

5. Other people’s secrets

It’s so hard to find trustworthy these days, especially in this digital age where everyone wants to create content and be famous.

So, when someone leans in and spills their secret to you, be a decent human being and keep it to yourself.

Don’t go blabbing about it to your friends or posting it online for the world to see.

When someone shares a secret with you, it’s like they’re handing you a little piece of their trust.

And once a secret is out, it can’t be taken back.

Sharing other people’s secrets will damage their trust in you; the people you are spilling them to will see you as unreliable.

Nobody wants to share anything important with someone who can’t keep their lips zipped.

Your reputation as trustworthy is worth more than any temporary satisfaction you may get from sharing someone else’s secret. /

6. Your future plans

Have you ever heard someone say that the moment they share their dream or plan, it never comes true?

I know it may sound superstitious, religious, or silly, but I want you to be open-minded because it makes sense why some people may believe this.

When you share your future plans with someone, especially someone who may not have your best interests at heart, you invite negative energy, jealousy, and doubt.

You can even lose motivation once you feel like you’ve already accomplished something by just talking about it.

This can easily influence your mindset and motivation towards achieving your goals.

It’s like planting seeds of doubt in your own mind.

And honestly, it’s easier to be discouraged than to be encouraged. 

Even if the people you share your plans with are supportive, their expectations and opinions can still weigh heavily on you and create unnecessary pressure.

Because they may constantly ask for updates or criticize your progress, which can be discouraging, distracting, and demotivating!

This is why I usually keep my plans and even pregnancies to myself. 

I get easily overwhelmed, and I don’t want unsolicited opinions to add to my overwhelm.

So, I’ve learned that limiting the outside influence on your goals is the key to staying focused and motivated.

This doesn’t mean shutting people out completely but being selective about who you share your plans with and only doing so when you feel confident and ready.

Remember, this is YOUR journey towards success, not anyone else’s.

Protect your dreams and plans until they come to fruition.

You don’t owe anyone an explanation or justification for what you want to achieve in life.

7. Relationship details

I see a lot of comments on social media these days on couples’ videos, saying people no longer keep private what should be private anymore, all in the name of content. 

I understand that sometimes, you want to encourage others through your relationship or show appreciation to your partner, but some things should remain sacred between you.

I also get that some couples are full-time content creators, and it’s their livelihood, but while doing that, don’t sacrifice your intimacy and connection for the sake of views and likes.

Broadcasting every argument, sweet gesture, or achievement is like inviting the whole village into your living room.

This can attract unnecessary criticism or unsolicited opinions from strangers.

8. Your children’s information

We live in a very crazy world; unfortunately, not everyone has good intentions.

Sharing personal information about your children, such as their full names, birth dates, schools, or even photos, can make them vulnerable to predators. 

You never know who lurks online and what they might do with that information.

Protecting your children’s privacy should be a top priority.

These days, I feel pretty uneasy sharing my children’s pictures on social media.

I limit the amount of information I post about them and only share with close family and friends.

Remember, their safety should always come first.

I don’t want to expose them too much, you know?

9. Your location

I’ll never understand why people feel the need to share their exact location online.

It’s like inviting strangers into your home without knowing anything about them.

You never know who could be watching and tracking your every move.

Sharing your live location can also make you an easy target for potential burglars or other criminals. 

In this crazy world, it’s better to err on the side of caution when revealing personal information online.

I always advise my friends and family to be mindful of what they share and to use privacy settings as much as possible. 

But even with privacy settings, there’s still a risk.

So why take unnecessary chances?

10. Your personal struggles

Just like family problems and secrets, personal struggles abound in every individual’s life. 

These could be anything from mental health issues to financial struggles and even relationship problems.

It’s understandable to want to reach out for support and advice online, but again, consider the potential consequences. 

Sharing personal struggles can make you vulnerable to judgment and criticism from strangers. 

There’s also a chance that someone could somehow use your vulnerabilities against you. 

People are not as kind and understanding as they may seem online, so you should think twice before opening up about personal struggles online.

In fact, sharing too much information about your struggles could also affect your professional life. 

Did you know that employers often conduct background checks, and social media is one of the first places they look for information? 

If you’ve shared sensitive or personal information online, it could potentially affect your job prospects. 

11. Other confidential things

I know there are many other things that you should keep private, but I sure can’t cover them all in this post.

Some are obvious; others are subjective.

Just use your discretion and common sense.

Your privacy is precious; protect it fiercely.

Just because something can be shared doesn’t mean it should be shared.

Let wisdom be your guide.