“Courage is telling our story, not being immune to criticism. Staying vulnerable is a risk we have to take if we want to experience connection…I’m inspired by everyone who shares their work and opinions with the world. Courage is contagious. My friend Katherine Center says, ‘You have to be brave with your life so that others can be brave with theirs.'” – Dr. Brené Brown

The last blog I wrote was a very difficult one for me to write and even more difficult for me to share. I have been thinking about it for YEARS, ever since I started this blog. I think that one of my hopes when I started the blog was to eventually share what I shared on the 4th without being scared of how vulnerable I had to be when I shared it with the interweb world and my network of family and friends. I’m not sure if I thought that day would ever come but it did…and I was immediately changed!

I received a lot of positive feedback from what I wrote and, please let it be known, that every word, share and like was noticed, appreciated, humbling and was felt in my heart and soul. It’s for those words and that feedback that I write. I read a lot on the topics of self-awareness, vulnerability, authenticity, fear and personal growth. Over the years the authors and doctors behind all of the books and journals I have read have taught me that vulnerability is not only necessary for self-growth but that the courage that it takes to be vulnerable is contagious and it is within the fear behind vulnerability that we find our strength and true selves. It’s AMAZING how true that is today after I shared one of my darkest sides last week. I truly feel like a better, stronger and more authentic version of ME and I BELIEVE what I said to myself. I have already begun to change my thoughts, the way I see and speak to myself and my word choices in dialogue with others.

It worked, it really worked, Dr. Brown!!! You were right! “Staying vulnerable is a risk we have to take if we want to experience connection.”The connection I felt with hundreds of you after I shared my blog is indescribable and connection is such a beautiful and comforting feeling. To know that there are others out there that share your same stories, struggles, pains and feelings is what keeps many of us going when the going gets tough. We are not alone in this world. We all fight very similar battles and its by putting our wounds and stories out there for all to see that we find that shared connection and reminder that it’s not just us on this roller coaster of life. It can be a beautiful ride and we don’t have to ride it alone.

Thank you to all of you that have let me know that you are in the seats with me. By being brave with my life I have helped some of you to be brave with yours and that’s the reason I LOVE to write. Thank you for making the vulnerability worth it and for being vulnerable enough to say it out loud.

Dr. Brené Brown will be in Nashville in August and I bought my ticket immediately! I can hardly wait to meet the woman that has helped to change my life, that has taught me how to be vulnerable, how to embrace my imperfections and that “authenticity is the daily practice of letting go of who we think we’re supposed to be and embracing who we are.” Shaking her hand and hearing her speak in person will be a true gift that I’m so excited to receive! If you haven’t read any of her work, start with The Gifts of Imperfection. Consider it a gift to yourself! (Or a gift from me!) 😉

I will end this blog with ONE MORE quote for tonight. It’s one of my absolute favorites: