Who is it you're hiding from?

Who is it that we are really hiding from?

Because its not other people.

Who is it that we are hiding our vulnerability from? Hiding our authenticity, our biggest dreams and seemly delusional desires?

Because its not other people.

We confine ourselves into little boxes, question ourselves before we act and keep our self expression small.

We fear being judged or ridiculed, worrying that we will fall somewhere outside of the norm.

But it is not other people we hide it all from.

It is ourselves.

We lock away our vulnerability because owning it leaves us feeling pain when someone can't meet us in the place of empathy and respect.

We live in a world where it is inevitable we will be met with judgement and criticism. But it is the feeling we get from that judgement which keeps us hidden. This fear keeps us small and safe. You know the feeling I'm talking about. The feelings of shame, self-hatred, anxiety and inadequacy.

They show up when someone doesn't meet us on the same level, doesn't agree with our perspective or judges our appearance. It is that feeling that we run from. The fear of being rejected, made to feel small or insignificant, throws up our childhood trauma, leaving us overwhelmed and often unable to recognize the origins of our emotions.

Imagine if we faced that feeling head on. Embraced it. We stopped confining ourselves and actually looked inwards. We welcomed the feeling of being judged because in that feeling we could see ourselves in a whole new way. We learn to accept ourselves fully, embrace and love who we are deeply. We spend that time truly in touch with who we are, creating an unshakable foundation in which to do the healing work.

'When the roots are deep, there is no reason to fear the wind'

Embracing our fear.

Sounds scary right? The idea that our reactions are our responsibility, that we use our reactions to look within ourselves. It is hard to ask the questions and do the work. It is hard to admit that the feeling means healing. It's something that most people go through their entire lives never doing, never even considering. Allowing their 'safe' subconscious beliefs to keep them moving blindly through life. Here you are, reading this. Already doing the work.

'When we bare our souls to ourselves and to others, the ripple effect we have can change the world.'

Let's do a deal. Not for me or anyone else, but for you. Make yourself a deal. That the next time you feel the shame, anxiety, frustration or whatever emotion stirs in you when you are judged or belittled, you work with. Or the next time you want to step out of your safe zone and something stops you, you work on it. You sit with your feelings, feel the emotions and ask yourself the questions. Why do you feel this way? What is it about the experience that doesn't feel safe for you? Think of a time where you very first felt that feeling? Can you recognise the emotion.

Most importantly can you do this with love. Can you treat yourself with the same compassion, empathy and kindness you would for someone else? Create a safe place for your own vulnerability whilst you process your experiences.

So shall we make that deal?

To build your foundation. To do the work. To learn to build your roots.

---

Let me know how you get on & as always, remember you are already healing.