Using vulnerability to excel in life

Hi !

 

Have you ever tried cliff jumping?

 

If so, how do you feel right before taking the plunge?

 

This past weekend I took my son to a spot here in Costa Rica where he jumped last year, about 10 different times.

 

This experience, however, he was really hesitant.

 

He wanted me to go first, which I did, and beforehand I felt the usual fear within myself, but also knew from many cliff jumping experiences, I just needed to do it and that my resistance was only that voice inside my head trying to convince me I needed to feel safe and in control of my body.

 

My son eventually jumped once and then his hesitation came back.

He wanted me to talk him through it so he could jump again and even asked me to push him off, which I politely declined, telling him it would be more empowering for him to decide to do it himself.

 

As we walked toward the car after leaving, his disappointment in himself was clear and of course I did my best to let him sit with his feelings and also remind him I love him no matter what and we can always go back if and when he's ready.

 

Have you ever felt similarly, whether it's jumping off a cliff or something else...

when you come face-to-face with your false-self, who appears to keep you safe, but also holds you back?

 

 

When I work with groups in my workshops, I always let them know this and encourage many things, one being vulnerability.

 

Being on a team and a group is just like being in a relationship.

 

It's possible to have some success with pure talent and ability (or attraction and financial safety in relationships), but that is performing on the surface.

 

There is a deeper level of success when members of the group feel comfortable and safe enough to share what is happening with them, within the team dynamic and outside of it.

 

Have you been on a team that does this?

 

Have you been on a team that does not?

 

 

Many high performers who are arrogant are actually deeply afraid of "being found out" and criticized, and feel they have to constantly wear this mask to protect themselves.

 

When a person grows up not feeling safe or encouraged enough to share how they feel and what they are experiencing, he/she closes up and the false-self runs their show, more often than not.

 

But when you decide to be brave and jump off the metaphorical cliff and share how you are feeling, it begins (or continues to) reverse the old program that holds you back.

 

Vulnerability comes with knowing and accepting that you can get hurt and that is a risk for you to decide to take, or not.

 

 

That leads to more intimacy.

 

The most functional teams and relationships have a deep level of intimacy and safety for all members.

 

 

Performance, individually and as part of a unit, is enhanced because you operate from less fear and more from your higher self.

 

As you might have experienced before, you achieve more when your talents and abilities are used with love and joy, rather than fear and stress.

 

I told my son that day on the cliff, "you will feel better about yourself if you just do it, and worse about yourself if you don't."

 

Maybe you felt this and still have trouble with vulnerability and having deeply intimate conversations with others, afraid to show "weakness"?

Ask yourself, "Is vulnerability really weakness, or is it strength?"

 

I am always here to help you grow and excel and succeed in any ways in your life, and of course you are the one who needs to decide to jump off that cliff. 

 

I myself jumped off the cliff toward deeper personal awareness and tested the waters below for me and now for you.

 

Know it is safe and empowering.

 

 

Please feel free to pass this onto someone you think can benefit from reading this.  A link to my newsletter can be found by clicking here.