Today felt like I was running out of time. I kinda feel overwhelmed, but not as overwhelmed as I naturally would be atm. I believe that’s God helping me and I’m grateful for the peace.

I want to share with you what I read today in a book I’m currently reading; “The gifts of imperfection” by Brené Brown.

I put in bold the parts that spoke more to me, even though everything is important.

“The greatest casualty of trauma-the thing that trauma often takes away from us–is the emotional, and sometimes even physical, safety that is necessary for us to be vulnerable.

I’ve seen this in my work with the military, veterans, and sur-vivors. And, in addition to the trauma of violence, neglect and poverty are trauma. Dehumanization–the core of rac-ism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, xenophobia, and all systemic forms of oppression and/or bias–is a form of daily trauma. You only have to witness someone who shares your identity suffering to experience real emotional and physical trauma.

Many of these systemic forms of trauma are so pervasive that asking people to embrace vulnerability and imperfections without taking into consideration their lived experience can be asking them to do something that is not emotionally or even physically safe in all environments.

So, what do we do? I believe that everyone deserves brave and safe spaces to be vulnerable. None of us can fully embrace the gifts of vulnerability, courage, and authenticity if any of us are denied those gifts because of who we are or what we’ve endured. Being imperfect, authentic, and vulnerable is a function of being human-not a privilege afforded to those who can get away with it without being labeled, dismissed, and judged.

We are all responsible for creating these brave, safe spaces and dismantling the systems that perpetuate trauma. Living and loving with our whole hearts is not just about self-work. It’s how we change the world. Without awareness, work, and actionable change, we will continue to live in a world where we perceive some people as brave and strong for sharing their vulnerabilities, while for others, their sharing of struggles and fears become confirmation of the conscious and unconscious biases we hold.

The experiences that bring the most meaning to our lives are born of vulnerability -and that includes freedom. And, as Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. famously said, “No one is free until we are all free.” There is no wholeheartedness up-less we do everything we can to dismantle the brokenhearted-ness of injustice.

I still use the definition of authenticity that I first wrote for this book as a personal prayer. So, holding these words in my heart and in my hand, here’s my prayer for all of us and my daily commitment:

May we find the courage to let go of who we think we’re supposed to be so that we can fully embrace our authentic selves–the imperfect, the creative, the vulnerable, the powerful, the broken, and the beautiful.

May we show ourselves and others the compassion that comes from knowing that we are all made of strength and struggle.

May we create a just and equitable world where privilege isn’t a prerequisite for self-expression and authenticity, where everyone feels invited and safe to express their power and their vulnerability.

And last, may we experience the strength of connec-tion, the love of belonging, and the grace of pure joy.“

As usual, be a light in you space 💫