Tag: brave

Brave communication

Posted on by philipdodson

We need to all be brave enough to have the difficult conversations in our lives otherwise miscommunication, resentment and shame continue to dominate our interactions as humans.

It means that we have to be brave enough to listen, as well as speak, and most importantly, when we feel uncomfortable and feel the urge to be silent or walk away.

We need to be brave enough to understand others first and to allow them to be seen. Understanding others and allowing them to be seen is the most powerfully part of communication, how can we respond if we do not understand the other person?

We need courage in being able to receive feedback too, even if the other person may be struggling with how to tell us. If we assume that it comes from a place of good intention, then there is something in there for us to learn.

We need to be brave in creating a space where others can feel safe in expressing themselves, even if they are like all of us, they may struggle to express themselves well. That doesn’t mean that they are not valid. Of course, we can ask for time to consider and we do not have to accept unkind choices of behaviour by others.

Communication is one of the hardest things we have to do as humans. It is the thing that, amazingly, we are never taught. Our role models such as parents, teachers and other leaders are also struggling with communication too so they show us bad examples mainly.

It perpetuates until we are all collectively brave enough to be able to speak truthfully from our hearts in a kind, compassionate and empathetic way. When we are able to have the courage to have the hard conversations and not shy away from them because it is painful for us, then we can start to make lasting changes in how we as humans communicate with each other.

We have to be first to demonstrate this courage and lead by example, not by telling others that they are doing wrong.

Out and out bare ‘truth’ is damaging, when it is really other emotions and shaming dressed up as just being honest. Even if we perceive our ‘truth’ to be accurate we should be brave enough not to use that in a harmful and unkind way.

What to do when fear comes knocking?

Posted on by philipdodson

When the challenge comes, when the voice comes, when the fear arrives, when the doubt comes, when the old habits resurface, what do I do?

I allow my inner voice, my inner child, and my fears to be seen, to be understood, I welcome them as a guide and sign. I do not reject them or judge them, I simply hear them, understand them and allow them to be seen. I then offer my empathy, a hug, a there-there and I reassure my mind and my inner child that everything will be OK. I am here for them, I will support them, the universe is with me and all things will be OK.

I have to learn to trust that, I have to reassure those fears that everything will always be OK, no matter what and I have to lean into those fears and realise that I am moving forward and growing, which will always bring fear and uncertainty. The mind does not like change and fears any kind of risk to the status quo.

I am fearing moving on from my comfort zone, which is in fact, a discomfort zone, my soul wants to break out and be free and express itself and do all the amazing things that it wants to do. However, the mind and the ego want none of that, the inner child is frightened and all the old repeating habits and sabotage are being dug up to prevent me from moving on. Time to give them all a reassuring hug and support them and embrace those feelings and own them. Take a leap into the unknown…it’s where all the magic is.

It is a battle, but it is not a battle that has to be a negative fight or a struggle, it is one that my warrior spirit is going to lovingly work on to reassure my inner child that all will be alright, it is fine to step out onto the stage and be in the light, nothing will happen and everything will be ok.

If we learn how to nurture, protect, reassure and understand our inner child, mind and ego and give it a hug and support it, then it will be at peace too. When we resist it, fight it and create this inner conflict, then it naturally defends itself and will not be in alignment with ourselves.

In order to move on and be brave enough to be our true selves, we have to bring ourselves in alignment with our mind and body. Mind, body and soul in total alignment.

We are amazing and in order to allow that amazement to shine we have to be able to work in partnership with our mind and our body and we have to respect them and be with them. If we fight them and try to control them then it will create resistance.

Reassuring our inner child is key to helping us let go of fear and allowing fear to become our friend, to be our guide, and to walk hand and hand with it down our path. Fear is not bad or good, it just is and when we accept that and partner with it, lean into it and of with it, then we can overcome the fear and grow. We can achieve our very best when we embrace fear and do not fear the fear.