The Challenge to Share

As I have walked life with those around me, I have been encouraged to share bits and pieces of my story because I’ve been told it has the potential to resonate with others...So here it goes. Back to the blog world after a hiatus.

I am the introvert that prefers one on one or small group time over a large group party and can often be found listening. It wasn’t until the last 2-3 years when I have started to more openly share. I didn’t recognize the power of my silence and out of my own insecurity of being rejected and my fear of saying the wrong thing, I withheld many of my inner thoughts. A couple years ago I was confronted by someone who cared about me and she said, “MM, I know you journal, you have thoughts. I know you write them down, but people need to hear them.” That was a pivotal challenge for me. Before being confronted, I honestly didn’t think people cared what I thought and if they did, I assumed they would ask. I didn't plan to bore people with my thoughts and opinions if they didn’t want to hear them so I kept quiet. Little did I know I was building walls.

I took the challenge. I started to share more with those in my inner circle and it was amazing how much more relatable it made me. The more I started sharing, the more others were willing to share. My vulnerability broke down walls. Instead of keeping people at arms distances, it allowed people up close enough to know my hurts and heaven for bid my junk, the stuff that gave me life and the stuff that brought me down. It allowed others to see my humanness.

Try it. See what being vulnerable does to those around you.