Embracing Vulnerability

Yesterday I had one of those days...

The kids woke up early after several interruptions throughout the night. Getting out the door was a bigger challenge than it should have been. Then I spilt coffee all over my favorite jumper.

We all have them. We all feel crappy some days, and its fitting on RU OK day today to acknowledge all of these feelings and let ourselves feel VULNERABLE.

I have been pondering this concept for several years now. It wasn't until my dire straights phone call with my darling sister yesterday that I was reminded of how important it is to allow ourselves to feel vulnerable. Not only do we feel we have to hold it all together (especially in front of our children), we deny ourselves the opportunity to acknowledge and feel what is really going on inside. Shame for not keeping our cool, shame for not being the fit, perfect, vegan Mum that social media tells us to be.

Having grown up in a household where we were a burden if we ever expressed how we felt, I thought I was ME that was the problem.

I was never comfortable bragging or boasting about what we had and what I had (or perhaps hadn't) achieved. I always knew that was not my style. I craved honesty. I craved a role model who could tell me how it was, that school would be hard, girls could be nasty, and being your own person was a strength.

A recent phone call to a relative took me back to when I was younger and only ever expressing how great things were, how much her daughter was enjoying her new study venture etc. Is this really all we have to say to keep up the facade of being happy, capable, smart, wealthy, successful?

What if we were comfortable expressing our vulnerability?

Instead of saying how rosy life was, what if we taught the next generation to express how we really felt and open up the conversation to grow, heal, vent, learn and feel heard. This then creates healthier self esteem and provides a space for healing and growth.

I have always been known for 'telling it like it is'. Perhaps being too honest. I have lost friends along the way, and I have gained a beautiful community of friends who can talk about how crappy it is to change the bed sheets 3 times throughout the night while we are toilet training, working, home schooling and trying to survive the COVID fatigue.

Honest is good, it is healing, it is powerful. If you don't have anything kind to say, don't say anything at all. You can be honest and still be respectful and honor your values.

I challenge you to let your guard down and be vulnerable today, tell a friend or neighbour how you really feel.

You will be surprised how deep and meaningful your relationships can become if you are open to meaningful and raw conversations.

xx