You are here and you are growing daily in this work. Feeling great and finding some confidence and then OOF… discomfort. What is often one of the most vulnerable parts of that growth? Opening up and allowing others in. Coming to that space of loving yourself enough to no longer dull, numb, or sanitize your story out of fear that others around you may not accept you. We often find ourselves thinking that if others got to know us, the real us, that they would cringe and bail. We fear judgment, lack of acceptance, and even losing those we love to the point where we begin to hide ourselves, our story, our victories, our failures, and our feelings in order to create a false sense of security.
The problem?
Over time, the heavy burden that comes alongside isolation is simply too much for us to continue to hold. Deep down, everyone desires to be known, seen, loved, and accepted at a soul-deep level, but not all of us have a community where we feel safe enough to be understood.
I spent a long time hiding the parts of me that I was ashamed of. My mistakes, my memories, even my wants and needs when they conflicted with the wants and needs of others. The harder and harder I worked to push that away, the louder they all became. It was only when I found my safe people, opened up, and shared all of the parts of myself that I was finally set free.
Not everyone is going to understand. Not everyone will resonate or agree with your story. But… many will. Many will not only see strength in your story, but they will also feel permission to live freely themselves… free to set down the baggage of the past, live authentically in the now, and be brave enough to share that story with others. That is how we all grow, right? When you hear someone’s story similar to your own and you see them thriving, you are encouraged because you finally see that it’s possible. In the same way, they will witness you living in gratitude for the valleys that you walked through and will be inspired to shed their own masks.
This is a challenging level of vulnerability and may not come to you right away. My best advice is to start small, find your people, and open up in ways that make you feel safest. Over time, you’ll watch as God grows a community who knows you as you are and loves you all the same. If you need help getting started on that community, you can find an incredible one right here at Discover Your Worth!
Courses on Boundaries, Heal from Codependency, Stewardship, and Rising Daughters are all available immediately for access to every active DYW member. Not only do you receive the self-paced video courses, but you get access to a monthly masterclass (including all the previous ones), bonus content, and email support with me.
Don’t wait… Join us today!
Now is the time to Discover Your Worth.
