Let's all share something about ourselves that no-one else knows. Who wants to go first?
No takers?
How surprising!
Openness is a keyhole we open that lets others see into our deepest self. An opening into the real you - the imperfect, fearful, embarrassed, vulnerable you. And allowing someone to put their eye to that keyhole and see in opens us to ridicule, embarrassment, being despised.
In the spirit of this post, let me share something with you. People usually appreciate openness. Not so long ago I was leading prayers at church. I was standing at the front, praying, and suddenly I was overcome with emotion. I broke down in tears and couldn't go on. I returned to my seat and passed the prayers off to my husband while I sat in my seat and sobbed. Now one of the things you need to understand is that I'm shy. I find it difficult to stand in front of crowds. I fear being ridiculed after being bullied at school. I was mortified that I had lost it in front of the congregation.
But you know something? Nobody laughed at me. In fact, everyone was kind and concerned for me. So I survived. Being vulnerable doesn't have to damage us. But sometimes you have to open up first and show the way.
Possibilities...
the butterfly in the caterpillar
the plant in the seed
the dreams in my heart
Thank you for being so open and honest in this post.
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