What is ‘bare’? The cupboard, a body, a soul? To ‘bare’ it all, is to be completely honest. It’s the essence of transparency. It’s raw and vulnerable and honest and sometimes painful and risky.
The homonym game is also interesting with ‘bear’ and ‘bare’. Bear – to carry like a burden or a weapon; an animal that can be frightening and dangerous.
So ‘grin and bear it’ could also be ‘grin and bare it’ – be transparent; be real; be vulnerable – but choose wisely.