Before you pull out your diary, take a second to weigh just how important this secret is. Is this something that will impact 😧💥 your relationship in the long run? Or is it something that happened years ago and doesn't really affect you or your partner?

While being in a relationship 💏 is all about transparency, that doesn't mean that you are obligated to share your dirty laundry. Get your best friend's opinion about your situation. Sometimes, having a fresh pair of eyes 👀 look at it from a different perspective makes everything make more sense.

Nothing good will come from springing your secret on your boyfriend out of the blue. Avoid making things awkward 😟 by waiting for the right time to talk like when your dinner date 🍽 is winding down or you're cuddling on the couch.

Raise your hand if this is you 🙋: Even though it happened a long time ago, hiding it from him doesn't feel right. The best way to tackle this is by being transparent and telling him exactly that. This will show him that you trust him enough to know even though it isn't important or relevant.

Put yourself in his shoes. There's nothing worse than finding out that your girlfriend has been hiding something huge like a serious addiction or illness down 😧 the line. Being honest now/before it goes any further will only change your relationship 👫 for the better.

He's less likely to worry 😟 about you if he knows that you're actively working to get back on track 👌. Come up with a list of what you need to do to make sure that the issue stays in the past.

We've all been in situations where no matter how hard we try to escape, we can barely keep our heads above water. Last year, you maxed out your credit card 💳 and wiped out all of your savings. Hitting rock bottom sucked, but now you spend your money 💸 more wisely.

Now all that is left to do is follow through.

Holding in this secret for so long weighed heavy on your heart. Now, imagine how your guy 👨 feels. Remember that you've had more time to come to terms with it. Reassuring him that he doesn't have to shoulder this burden is super important.

Tell him that he means so much to you that you are willing to share this part of yourself that you've hidden for so long, even if it hurts. If he's the right guy, he'll see you for the genuine person that you are 💝.