A Daring Heart

One of the most powerful and difficult things that we can do in making connections with people and weaving a strong social web is to dare to share our authentic selves. Vulnerability is scary, no matter how many times we dare to practice it, but its effects can be profound. Let’s take some time to reflect, this month, on the conversations we’ve been avoiding. The places where we haven’t spoken up about how we really feel. The people who don’t yet know us as we truly are. Where can you push yourself to be a little more real? A little more true to yourself? In whatever way is possible (and safe) for you, take some small steps to show up and be vulnerable.

This challenge offers a chance to weave a stronger social web and develop social and emotional courage.

Habit:
Speak up as your most authentic self

To Do:
– Watch Brene Brown’s TED Talk (http://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_on_vulnerability)
– Start a conversation that really matters
– Speak your truth to someone you care about

Reflection:
This was a powerful and valuable challenge. These are ideas I’ve been engaging with for years, but every reminder is important. It’s very easy to slip back into the habit of keeping difficult truths to oneself, the habit of protecting the world from the messy parts of ourselves. But connecting deeply with others demands the opposite, challenging us again and again to reveal our selves–real and unfinished, authentic and messy, imperfect and beautiful.