Finding Your Truest You: From Reflection to Reality

I talk a lot about learning that my vulnerability is a super power over the past five years. One thing I still get hung up on is when/how to be vulnerable at work.

According to Culture Works HR, 60% of Americans struggle to maintain a healthy balance between their professional and personal lives.

Quora says that vulnerability is natural and should be embedded within any company’s culture. “It creates trust and promotes acceptance and empathy when giving and receiving feedback. It also helps with effective problem solving and decision making.”

According to Toner Buzz, 85% of companies that offer work-life balance programs report an increase in productivity, while 33% of employees with a good balance say they plan to stay longer in their current role.

The fear of making connections and being vulnerable can stem from various sources, such as past traumatic experiences, fear of rejection or abandonment, low self esteem, or a lack of trust in others. This is true whether in your personal or professional life.

So how can you change that?
-Focus on building self awareness;
-Practice active listening;
-Share your thoughts and feelings appropriately;

Do you have a difficult time being vulnerable? Try a few of these to help get you started.

What makes you tap your hands or feet to the beat? What makes you stop and take a second look? What makes you feel a sense of peace and tranquility? Whatever it is, do those things… as often as possible. Those are the true things that set your soul on fire!

Do you ever wonder if you are where you are supposed to be? Do you question whether or not your life should have been different from what it is right now? Maybe you should have had different parents or different circumstances. However, I want you to know that you are exactly where you need to be. If you are going through a trial, once it’s over, you will have grown far more than you ever thought possible. If you are hurting, you will find healing and be able to use those painful moments to help someone else. If you are feeling lonely, have faith that God will bring the right people into your life to fill the voids. Trust the process. Trust the plan – His plan for your life. You have come to the right place for encouragement, and I know exactly where you are. If you need help talking through those or any other issues, please reach out to me.

Do you need to remove your shades or do you simply need to open your eyes to certain things? Maybe you need to open your eyes to the beauty that is around you. But maybe you need to open your eyes to how someone may be treating you. Maybe you need to take the glasses aka blinders off. I think sometimes we choose to keep our eyes hidden for fear that we will see something that we suspected all along. A natural trauma response to avoid dealing with certain things is to simply act as though it doesn’t exist. If it doesn’t exist, it won’t be real and maybe the pain won’t be there. In order to get past the pain, sometimes we need to take the blinders off and face reality. Facing our situations head on, although likely uncomfortable, will allow us to move on past the trauma or thing you are hiding from. What do you need to open your eyes to today?

Voila! Ta da! Those are just a few exclamatory words to say, “There it is” or “Look what I have made”. Something you are showing to others that you are pleased with. You don’t think of that word as it relates to what you are creating because that would seem braggadocious right? You can spend years with an idea bubbling up inside of you and never letting it out, or you can take steps towards creating that life that you have always dreamed of. Whether it be starting a new career or business, or writing a book or creating something crafty. You owe it to yourself to release those ideas bubbling up inside of you. Don’t waste your God given talent because you are worried what others will think of it. Release it into the world so that everyone can appreciate it! This is your moment to say “Voila”!!

Fighting the good fight sometimes is exhausting. You do the right things when everyone else may choose the wrong things. You stick up for loved ones in rooms where people are talking negatively about them. You go out of your way to help someone in need, knowing they could never repay you. Maybe you stay up late with your children to finish that last minute project they told you about. All of these things are wearing you out and you are tired. Take a deep breath my warrior woman. Your load may be great, but God is greater! He will never give you more than you can handle, even if sometimes you feel like you are at a breaking point. I understand where you are coming from, but more importantly, He understands. You’ve got this!