Are you able to be vulnerable?

Can you open up to others and show your true self?

Are you holding back because you are afraid of judgement?

Take a few minutes to reflect on your interactions and relationships you have with friends and loved ones. How are those relationships? Are you able to be you without fearing judgement from other people’s opinions?

This quote by Brené Brown definitely resonates with me, especially more recently as I continue to meet so many new and amazing people on my journey. When I display the courage to open up to others my relationships with those individuals enhances exponentially.

When you can open up with others and share similar challenges, successes, and feelings, you get a better understanding of yourself and the other person. You begin to come from a place of curiosity, as opposed to judgement. You allow people to see who you are and, in turn, you can see who they are. It is extremely refreshing.

Taking off that mask allows self-acceptance to flow in and you become lighter and freer.

I met a friend for dinner the other night and we were able to take off our masks and let down our guard. We were able to share our challenges and struggles, as well as our opinions, even when they were different at times, without judgement.

We went beyond that shallow surface conversation you might typically have on a daily basis and we were able to simply be ourselves and have a good time without any reservations or hang-ups or fears of criticism. Not only do you get to reflect openly about crap you may be going through or holding on to but you also are able to get honest and open advice from the other person you are connecting with.

I ask you again, are you able to open up with others? Have you ever tried it?

It is crazy how we lose this ability to be open as we grow up. We start perceiving it as a negative as opposed to a positive. Just think of how it would be to tell someone what you are feeling instead of trying to pretend everything is great all of the time.

I mean, let’s face it life is hard. Life is not always a walk in the park. It certainly has its bright moments and its dark ones too.

All of us have the same emotions and feelings and deal with a lot of the same junk, would you agree? So why not share with each other so that we can become stronger individuals together.

Now it’s your turn.

How does this quote inspire you?

Tell me about an experience where you were able to be open and honest with someone and connect with them on a deeper level. How was that experience for you? If you have not been able to do so, what is stopping you or holding you back?

Contact me or share your thoughts below in the Comments section.

Let’s get the discussion going.

Remember, you are not alone on this journey. Together we can become stronger individuals.

Educate. Engage. Evolve.