I've been learning these past ten years that my vulnerability is what makes me not only stronger, but courageous and real. Being vulnerable is a refining process and with every step out in bravery that I have taken has lead me here. I wouldn't trade those risks, those times of despair, heart aches, disappointments or lessons learned for the comfort of staying in my seat.
I feel deeply, I live deeply and because of that, I believe I am called to be deeply vulnerable.
Even when, I would rather not.
As I cancelled an event I deeply wanted to see happen, I cracked open Brené Browns book "Rising Strong" and began to read her opening pages. The timing of reading her words was inspired and I believe I was kept from reading this book until now. Because now is when I needed it.
"I want to be in the arena. I want to be brave with my life. And when we make the choice to dare greatly, we sign up to get our asses kicked. We can choose courage or we can choose comfort, but we can't have both. Not at the same time.
Vulnerability is not winning or losing; it's having the courage to show up and be seen when we have no control over the outcome. Vulnerability is not weakness; it's our greatest measure of courage." - Brené Brown
So, I poured coffee this morning after doing yoga with my almost two year old, cracked open my journal and began to write about how I am still in this. That being vulnerable and falling is part of this whole process.
I am here and working on these projects for a purpose and that purpose isn't defined or decided by a simple cancelation, or words of critique. My job is stay grounded, stay on the surf board and ride the wave.
I choose courage. I choose vulnerability.