Choose People Who Choose You Back
This week's post is about being brave enough to accept ourselves as we are so that others can truly see and value us for the beautiful depth of our character.
"Belonging is belonging to yourself first, speaking your truth, telling your story, and never betraying yourself for other people" ~Brené Brown
It's no secret that our family and friends are a reflection of who we are.
As children, we instinctively seek to be included. Our identity is formed by an intricately conditioned network of familial relationships meeting outside connections challenged by life experiences. We learn that cooperation, compassion, and reliability lead to trust over time.
Real, lasting bonds occur when we allow our relationships to support us in our most vulnerable moments.
Along the way, we also learn that there's safety in being an emotional shapeshifter, molding our behavior to people and situations to help us feel like we belong. The real truth of the matter is the people who love us the most appreciate all aspects of us. Our tribe accepts us for being transparent, raw, and less-than-perfect. Our personhood is validated when we're seen and valued just as we are.
The secret sauce includes a willingness to be vulnerable and share our most authentic selves. That's how relationships flourish to become deep, rich, authentic, and meaningful.
My question to you is: Do you honor your incredible gifts and talents by sharing the fullness of who you are, or do you hide behind conformity?
