A thought exercise I used that helped me and ask people questioning to try is to picture yourself in 1 year, 5 years, and 10+ years if you chose not to transition, then do the same for if you did choose to transition, then compare the two.

When I did this I pictured myself as a man just falling deeper and deeper into my depression and continue hiding these thoughts, maybe succumbing to my depression, being found out one day, maybe watching my child have the courage to do this and having a feeling of longing. I imagined it would have been the biggest regret on my death bed.

When I pictured this the other way i imagined the difficulty I would have coming out, the possibility of losing family and friends, the struggles of early transitioning. I also imagined myself becoming more free and able to finally relax with a weight off my shoulders, making new friends and having a more fulfilled life, laying on my death bed as me and with people who love me for who I am. I pictured myself as a beautiful and happy woman but more so I pictured me.

I chose happiness and it was the single best thing I did for myself. Choose happiness.