Believe it or not, there was a time when I was shy; afraid of talking to people (strangers or not), of being seen and being heard. Even my voice was small if that makes any sense. I don’t really have a logical explanation for it either, as I have been this way ever since I can remember. And regardless of my education in counseling/coaching I still haven’t figured it out, just mere speculation of possibilities.
So up until now I have always played the part of the “silent observer”. If you walked into a room you wouldn’t even know I was there. As a child I would hide when company came, I was nicknamed “mouse” on more than one occasion, and then in college I still rarely spoke…only when required or needed. I was the fly on the wall; I heard everything, but said nothing.
That is, until one day a college professor told me that I am “cheating” the rest of the class, robbing them of their experience of me.
Not sure what she meant by that, I naturally asked, “How so?”
“What you have to say is important. When you don’t participate, when you do not speak, you are not only keeping people from getting to know you, but you are also essentially keeping important information from people. How do you know that what you say won’t profoundly affect someone else? What if when you share what you are thinking, what is inside of you…what if that information is key to inspiring someone else or them “getting it”? What if by sharing your light, you illuminate another?”
Hmmm…I never thought of that.
She was right. The truth was I didn’t know. I was more afraid of what people would think than honoring my own thoughts, feelings, and right for speech. And really, no one kept me there but me.
So I changed. No longer afraid of what people think, I speak up and express my truths. There is a profound sense of freedom in that. And in so doing, being open to sharing the gift of who I truly am, the world has becomes smaller, the faces friendlier, and wherever I go I always meet friends.
Even in an elevator.
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Thanks so much for reading! Your interest, encouragement and support helps keeps me motivated. Do you have any thoughts, ideas or feedback on my post? Then I would love to hear you!
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