We are natural born storytellers and by sharing stories we connect with people and show them it is OK to feel, trust and be open. It offers a permission slip to others to share and creates a courageous and safe space.

Connection is key when it comes to increasing wellness and creating courageous and mentally healthy cultures.

By sharing my own lived experience and research I’ve been able to connect with so many people and help them to build their emotional fitness and flourish and for this I am eternally grateful and so will continue to share whilst providing resources for effective support and help.

But sharing our vulnerabilities comes with a sense of responsibility. We need to be whole-hearted and open whilst also being accountable for what’s been and taking action to move forwards positively.

Researcher and writers Brene Brown writes: “Vulnerability is not a sympathy-seeking tool.”

Sharing even the most personal story does not give us a pass from taking accountability for our behaviours or implementing action to grow, learn and flourish. Sharing needs to be a step in a process for change. It is not the endgame but the start of the work… daily consistent personal work.

Sharing with a mindset of “if I tell my story they won’t blame me or hate me, they’ll understand” is a mentality Brene Brown refers to as:

Stealth intention (I can protect myself from rejection, shame, judgement and people turning away from me and thinking I’m a bad person).

This comes with a:

Stealth expectation (they won’t turn away from me and think I’m a bad person).

I found these two phrases really interesting. Often we see a story shared as a reason or excuse, but with no commitment to grow from it or accountability for our behaviours.

Sharing our vulnerabilities is open and courageous and needs to be a step in an action plan that leads us and others to grow and flourish. It is an important moment in a continuing journey.

Let’s keep sharing our stories, but with an intention to be wholehearted, grow and flourish and that will help reduce stigma, increase emotional fitness and help people perform.

Much love
Tabby xx