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A Word From Steven

Posted: Mon, Mar 23, 2020
Excerpt from yesterday’s (3/22) message: The Prime Minister of Norway, Edna Solberg, held a kids only press conference. She told her audience of kids, “It’s ok to be scared. It’s really brave to admit you’re scared.” We make the mistake of thinking strength is putting on a brave front and pretending to be ok when [...]

Excerpt from yesterday’s (3/22) message:
The Prime Minister of Norway, Edna Solberg, held a kids only press conference. She told her audience of kids, “It’s ok to be scared. It’s really brave to admit you’re scared.”
We make the mistake of thinking strength is putting on a brave front and pretending to be ok when we’re not. What if strength was the courage to be vulnerable acknowledging how we’re feeling and asking for help? What if strength is the permission we give one another to not have to pretend? When you ask how are you and someone responds, “ok,” what if you said, “No, really, how are you?” and listened without judgment or the need to solve, fix or save…just held space and listened.
If you’re struggling right now it doesn’t mean you lack faith or there’s something wrong with you. It just means life is hard, really hard right now. Struggling doesn’t require an apology. It requires tenderness and kindness to yourself. Extend tenderness and kindness to others because the chances are that the person who looks all together on the outside is struggling just as much as you are.
This time asks for us to rise and show up as our best and bravest self. Sometimes to show up as our best and bravest self we have to acknowledge and love our vulnerable and scared self. Sometimes to continue to make our hearts available to others we need to tend to our own hearts with gentleness and compassion. Strength isn’t always the willpower to overcome our struggles. Sometimes strength is the wisdom to extend grace to ourselves in the midst of our struggles.
It’s brave to admit you’re scared.
What are 5 simple things you can do today to love your scared and vulnerable self?
Your best and bravest self will thank you.