A few days ago I was talking with a friend and she was telling me about a big speech she gave. She was pretty happy with it but then shared with me that the most important part of the speech, the most moving, she had left out.
Completely skipped it.
On purpose.
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She said the part she had skipped over was super vulnerable and possibly a “downer” so she was afraid the crowd would feel uncomfortable after hearing her story.
I understood because I’ve felt the same way.
It was uncomfortable saying the word “lesbian” in front of a crowd of people I was trying to make laugh, making jokes about sex or drugs or depression or trauma. All of those things were vulnerable topics for me.
And still are, I might add!
I was not only afraid to talk about them, but I was afraid of making other people feel uncomfortable.
The stories and experiences that we are so afraid to share come from the darkest corners of our life. Places that we don’t want to show ANYONE. Maybe we’ll show family, a therapist, a close friend, but a crowd full of people who don’t know you?!
Terrifying!
After my friend shared her experience with me I shared with her this… “sometimes those parts that are the hardest, most uncomfortable parts to share are the ones that others need the most. Your voice raises other voices.”
As humans, we make life so much harder than it needs to be. All of us!
When we feel called to share something, we ask ourselves “How will this be received?” instead of “How can I help people, even one person, with my story?”
We cannot control how other people will react. Not only because we do not have sole control over other people but we have absolutely no control over the entire life experience those people have had.
The reasons as to why they act a certain way or don’t are completely infinite.
And also, at a certain point, irrelevant.
When life gets out of control for me it’s mostly because I’m TRYING to CONTROL other people and circumstances.
How great would it feel to focus on MY actions? MY response? MY words and how I use MY energy?
For my friend, out of 100 people in the crowd, there may have been 99 people who felt uncomfortable but one person who needed to hear her story.
1%
Even with all the uncomfortableness of opening up and sharing your words, your story, your darkness – would you take that chance?
“Only when we are brave enough to explore the darkness will we discover the infinite power of our light.” – Brene Brown
Let’s step into the uncomfortable work and allow the infinite power of our light to shine through!
Thanks so much for reading!
If you enjoyed this, please like and leave a comment below!
Have a great day!
Shay
P.S. Are you making New Year’s Resolutions? Before you make them, listen to my new podcast episode on why New Year’s Resolutions are OLD NEWS! I share my experience with resolutions and a few things to avoid when making them in order to be a happier, healthier, and less stressed person! Listen here. Read here. Or you can watch the video podcast on YouTube!
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