Sharing Yourself
The Freedom of Opening
May 2007

“When we were children, we used to think that when we were grown-up we would no longer be vulnerable. But to grow up is to accept vulnerability...To be alive is to be vulnerable.” Madeleine L’Engle

The Uncomfortable Truth…

Recently I attended an incredibly powerful seminar that got me looking more closely at the way I live my life.  I like to consider myself aware about how I craft my life, my relationships and experiences.  And then I got to see a deeper truth.  One of the most powerful and somewhat painful realizations I made is that I’m incredibly skilled at keeping people I care about at arms-length.  Allowing them just close enough to feel a part of my life and yet not so close that I have to be very vulnerable.  When I got massively honest, I realized that I make up reasons why I don’t share or invite more people into my inner circle, the most common “reason” is that I am so busy.  Whatever.  Truth is I’m just scared.

What an incredible awareness and at the same time I felt embarrassed of myself.  Suddenly I began to see the opportunities I’d been missing while “hiding out.”  Of course, on some levels, “containing my life” is easy and safe.  And yet, there is so much space for real, deep, authentic relationships that I’ve been denying myself because I was too afraid.  I pretended that I wasn’t scared.  I pretended I was busy or didn’t feel like it, or that I wouldn’t be understood.  Funny thing is I didn’t even know I was pretending.  I had really created lots of reasons that made perfect sense.  Now I get to see I was running a big cover up.  And I almost got away with it.

Conserving You

Survival is one version of living.  It is sort of desert-style though, with sparse plant life that has somehow adapted, living in a way that conserves water, because it’s not sure when the next rain will come.  Personally I want a big, delicious, flourishing garden-style life, dripping with vibrancy.  I don’t want to live conserving myself, my love, my depth—waiting for the right time to share it.  I want to be free, fully self-expressed and allow my heart to be open, available.  Now.

What are you placing between yourself and others?  What “reasons” do you use to separate yourself from your family, your friends, your world?  Sure, maybe you talk once or twice a week, or even daily, but are you actually really sharing yourself or are you skimming the surface, whether due to fear or due to some old resentment that keeps you from trusting others with the real you?

Lighter In An Instant

If I could find a way to package how freeing it is to tell the truth, share from a deeper place, and reach out to invite people in, I would wrap it up and give it to everyone I know.  However, all I can do is encourage you to try it for yourself and trust in the possibilities that might result.  Now, it isn’t necessarily easy, but there is an indescribable weight that falls off when you start being who you actually are and involving others in your experience.  Yup, there’s a chance people won’t get it, or say no thanks.  Big deal.  You will not die.  I promise that if you take steps to open up, invite people in and share of yourself, your relationships will look completely different and you’ll begin to see your life from a whole new angle.  Bright with possibilities.  Go big baby, go big!

Not sure how to begin?  Give me a call to set up intro session and begin the adventure into the true you.  Powerful questions, practical tools.

And for anyone who is interested in this incredible, transformational program I attended, check out the Landmark Forum at www.LandmarkEducation.com. They offer programs worldwide that are simply brilliant.  I’d recommend it to anyone who wishes to create an incredible life.  Wow, wow, wow

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