The lesson in Story #11 is about embracing shortcomings, the embarrassing moments. And how sharing these moments help in connecting with people in ways that foster sustainable life change. The interesting thing is where I learned this, 12 step meetings. These meetings have a high concentration of hurt & damaged people. I think there is a connection between hurt & damaged people like us and our super creative, thought provoking, empathetic tendencies. 

The problem is we have found it necessary to hide the details of our pain which leads to numbing and suppressing our special gifts.

Then I heard one gentleman share his story at a "speakers meeting", his story was filled with all the details behind many selfish decisions, his story had tears of disappointment, anger of self loathing, and courage of ownership. The way he delivered his message lit me up. I knew "this is what I want to do, this is how I want to show up" The truth and all the dirty details were laid out by him. And there was a lot of risk in him being so open. Still I didnt judge him, I was inspired by him.

The vulnerability and lessons derived from doing life the way he did was real. So real that I could connect to it, and see a new reality for myself. 

I decided that I would follow his example. Why? well because there is truth in the life I lived. The lessons I learned in the darkest places can help others that are wrapped up in dark places. My mistakes and violations can serve as chains or a catalyst. You have these stories too. Embracing them requires breaking from traditional approaches to doing life. The traditional approach I speak of is hiding our blemishes & learning scars, only displaying the shiny times. Shifting our shady moments into transformational lessons requires VULNERABILITY. 

But heres the thing, all the fears I had about how people would react to people knowing the darker truths about me have proven to be false. I decided to reframe those skeletons and now see them as a body of work. A body of work that I draw my credibility and confidence from. Confidence that I can share my lesson and others can grow from it, without the scars.

I want to know, what are the life lessons you've acquired that other people can learn from? and what is it gonna take for you to share them?

Embracing vulnerability has helped me contribute to the lives of many amazing people. I got my vulnerability practice as a matter of fulfilling the terms of my probation. My take away is the power of simply saying "I have a problem".  Rep after rep of me saying, to a group of human beings, "I have a problem" gave me power over my problems and more importantly helped me learn that I wasnt alone. Today I get these reps in by choice and I invite you to come experience deep vulnerability with The Emotional Bungee Jumpers

Be cool, and we'll talk at you next time😎