In a time when there is so much pretension and pretending, the importance of being real, authentic, and sharing vulnerability seems to be making a comeback. Perhaps, it actually never really went away. The social and world events of the last few years have helped to highlight the need for a strong relationship with reality in our work and personal lives. Dealing in the truths of our realities, allows us to make better decisions.
In the workplace, there is greater emphasis on understanding how personal and professional responsibilities might better coexist without as much sacrifice as was expected in prior generations.
In personal life, the need to be transparent and vulnerable as it relates to our connections with one another and mental health struggles has come to the forefront. We have begun to normalize the the reality of mental health struggles and in so doing, we normalize that it is not necessary to carry heavy burdens in shame or secret.
I can think of several times in my life when I vulnerably confided in sharing some life difficulties with others and when others have done the same with me. The usual outcome was that we both had faced similar circumstances or known of others who did. The result was a normalization that helped to provide a sense of support in common experience and a confidence in a oath forward.
When we exercise the courage to be vulnerable, real, and authentic with others, we extend our courage to others to do the same. We also help others understand that they are not alone in their life struggles. Part of living life is learning, growing, changing, overcoming. So let's get real so we can go through life together.
