When I was in my corporate job in 2000, I struggled with sharing myself fully because who I was personally didn’t seem to fit what the professional mold was. I have struggled with it as well over the years as I’ve moved my life into this artistic realm of running a fire dancing school because even though I am an artist, I am also professional — in a sense the opposite problem I had in my corporate job. In my corporate job, I didn’t want my professionalism called into question because I was an artist and Burner; In my artist job, I don’t want my free spirit called into question because I’m professional.
What I recently discovered through feedback from Facebook followers is that, as one friend/follower said last week, “your personal is your professional is your spiritual is your political — you’re a lot more brave than I am.”
I have to agree – there is a certain amount of courage required. On the other hand, I notice I have increasing amounts of freedom the more rawly I share myself because I am being authentic and don’t feel I need to hide me. I am more integrated in who I present myself as because all the things I am are one. And the truth is, I’d rather be transparent than have to deal with figuring out who I can tell what to. So I just made a decision about 8 months ago and just went for it. And the truth is, I have gotten braver and braver. Read this weeks posts though and you’ll get a sense of real rawness! I have had a crazy week.
I also believe it is very healing to be transparent. We have so much of our lives been told to be inauthentic and “do the right thing” which often means “be polite” rather than “be authentic.” I say f*ck that — let’s be real and share ourselves so our beauty can shine through and we can support each other more fully.
I believe by sharing my world more fully, I feel more free. I also believe that as others see this freedom, they become inspired and take it on themselves. It is a self perpetuating upward spiral. 🙂
Thank you Isa! It’s the very thing I’ve been struggling with myself. And, thanks to your writing and comments from my followers, I am beginning to feel more brave too! ~ Courtney