brene

Personal Manifesto

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Several years ago I took a course with Brenè Brown that rocked my world. Not only did it invite me to be thinking more about how I show up in my life, but I was reminded that being vulnerable and courageous, and sometimes face down in the arena’s of life, are the most powerful moments a person can experience.

Part of the course was creating a personal manifesto. Making a public statement about how I intend to live my life has been powerful and game changing.

My manifesto:

In creating a life of happiness and peace in all facets of my life, I will cultivate habits of practicing self love. Included in my self love practices will be engaging in daily activities calmly and mindfully, resting my body, eating clean, meditating, being in nature, taking time to be alone, and nourishing myself with friendships and interactions that support me. I will love myself by consistently and gratefully engaging in these practices. Doing this requires me to set boundaries with myself and others and ask for what I need. I will communicate honestly and authentically. I will hold myself and others accountable for engaging in interactions and experiences that are respectful, peaceful and without shame and blame, especially when I feel pressure or high demands. Practicing self love and cultivating a life of calm and peaceful interactions will create a life that is centered, joyful and wholehearted and one that allows me the space to continue making a difference for those in my personal life and in my work.

Boom.

In the Arena of

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Brené Brown has such a way with telling it how it is. I took one of her semester long online classes called Daring Greatly and it was a game changer for me. I still pull out my workbook from time to time and get renewed by the lessons.

A couple of my biggest takeaways were learning what my deepest value is that lights my way through life. Knowing this value and being able to look back at my decisions and choices throughout my life has been incredible. I now can move through life with this awareness and know when I get that feeling of uncertainty, I check in with my value.

The second takeaway was learning to give myself permission. In the course you are asked to write down permission slips (Brené is a huge fan of sticky notes) and let yourself be vulnerable, be raw, speak your truth, ask for what you needs, etc.

When I was going through this course especially, but even now, I noticed that people would give me feedback about my dirt on my face as a result of being face down in the arena and offer tons of advice and opinions—usually while their own lives were a complete mess. Funny how people do that. ?

I say get in the arena. Do the work. Get dirty and messy. Then wipe off the dust and go on stronger than ever.