Growing up, I think I may have created the concept in my head that you only have to “put yourself out there”, or be vulnerable on certain occasions. That it wasn’t a daily occurrence. You only had to step out when you’re “ready”. When you make the choice to:

1. Ask your Boss for a raise

2. Go on a date

3. Interview for a job

4. Share a business plan

You get the picture.

But I have come to realize, being vulnerable is, and should be, a daily occurrence.

Embrace vulnerability.

Life is about putting yourself out there!!

If none of us decided to step out of our comfort zone, we wouldn’t have a lot of amazing things in life.

Do you think Steve Jobs was afraid to release Apple Computer 1? Do you think he considered what people might think or how people might respond? Innovators believe so deeply in their ideas that they are willing to share, open their ideas to critique, refine, and relaunch.

I recently saw a quote that said:

‘“What will people say?” This sentence has killed more dreams than anything else in the world.’

There is strength in vulnerability which enables you to share, knowing full well that there are those who may rip you apart but your inner strength fortifies you from failing.

A few years ago, I started questioning myself with a method called:

TAKE IT TO THE WALL.

Here is what that looks like:

If ______

If the above was true, why would it be upsetting to me? What would it mean to me?

Then ______

If the above was true, why would it be upsetting to me? What would it mean to me?

People might say ______

If the above was true, why would it be upsetting to me? What would it mean to me?

Would that be so bad?

What helps me is focusing on one thing at a time. If you allow all the factors of putting yourself out there to flood your mind and energy, you’re going to allow it to control your life. Mind over matter.

If we connect with our emotions, then we don’t allow the outer world to corrupt them and drive who we are.

I honestly feel that this thought was made clear in the finale of Stranger Things.

“People don’t spend their lives trying to look behind the curtain. They like the curtain. It provides themselves with stability, comfort, and definition”. Murray Bauman, Stranger Things

Stop living behind the curtain. Put on a show!!

Nike: Air Force 1 Sage Low. TeePublic: Eleven. Yogalicious: “Lux” High Rise Short With Pocket.