Day 5 - Vulnerability is 🔑
Now that we’re discovering our individual characters, we need to start to show up with them. Entering situations with your heart wide open will sometimes feel uncomfortable and vulnerable. LIVE IN THAT. Don’t shy away. Vulnerability is the key to open the door you really want to walk through but think you “can’t”. We must start to practice vulnerability so it becomes our norm. A little bit every day. Practice, after all, makes “perfect” (we should all acknowledge there is no such thing as perfection, so let that go now). One of the things I’ve implemented in my life is to tell people how I’m reallllly doing. There are two versions to this.
Version A:
Friend: How are you?
You: I’m doing great! You?
Friend: Same!
End of conversation. Doesn’t get very far. Buuuut…
Version B:
Friend: How are you?
You: You know, this last week has been a tough one. I’ve really been struggling with ______. Thank you for asking and listening.
Friend: I’ve been dealing with that a lot lately too! I've found that ____ really helps!
As you can see, the vulnerable version B lets communication open up. It lets you connect and have real conversations with other human beings who may be going through the exact same thing. BEING VULNERABLE CONNECTS YOU TO LIFE. It lets your he(art) come through in all you do.
This day is all about your openness with other people. How you express your emotions, your needs, and current state of mind to them. Communicating with he(art) is about how you take in THEIR feelings and process them while also expressing YOURS. It’s all about communicating in a healthy, authentic way. It lets us live truthfully and openly, taking unneeded weight off our shoulders. It lightens us. Whenever I’m truly open and authentic with my friends and family, telling them how I’m really doing, I feel seen. Surrounding myself with people who really matter to me makes me feel seen. Whenever I’m performing at an event, I make my needs heard in a polite, strong way. I speak up for the things I need from others to do my job correctly and in return I'm able to shine and do my best. If I didn’t ask for what I needed I would feel nervous and uncomfortable the whole time and it would affect my performance.
It’s SO important to be able to connect with others and tell our stories because that’s how change is made. That’s how you make a difference in people's lives. By opening up. By telling your journey. By saying “yes and''. You get to build magical connections and ideas with colleagues, friends, strangers. All by sharing pieces of YOU. All by communicating your honesty.
Listen: “Self-love!”
Exercise & Journal Prompts
Exercise:
Ask a friend how they’re doing. If they give you general answers, invest some time in helping them open up if they’re wiling. Get into specifics with them. Really listen and respond truthfully. If they ask you about you, TELL THEM THE TRUTH about your day and where you’re at. Even if it feels scary.
If you want people to listen to you with care and consideration, make sure to return the same for them. Sometimes the easiest way to create an experience of safety between you and another person is to be an example of what you yourself would find helpful. Sometimes when we want to be vulnerable or honest, we may encounter someone who can’t open up the same way but that’s ok. Try
In a work or home environment, try speaking up for your needs. If you’ve been feeling like you need more support from others in a specific area, try making your needs known in a kind and supportive way. Asking for that little bit extra from others could make a world of difference for you.
Journal Prompts:
What are some ways in which you could be more honest with yourself in your day to day life?
What are things you need from yourself and from others to successfully accomplish your goals?
Create a mock convo of what it would feel like for someone to hold space for your honest self. Think of a friend and write their name and the question “How are you?” Then continue the dialogue in a way that is completely honest. Do you think you could be this honest in real life? Why or why not? Share a few insights and feelings about how it compares to how you normally show up in real life. See if you can begin to bring more of your honest self into your daily interactions.
Friend: “How are you?”
You: Answer authentically.
At Fit for Broadway, we create safe spaces online and in real life to learn and grow together. Fit for Broadway Online Workshops are meant to encourage connection within our community. Feel free to join our Facebook Group to share and connect with other participants. It is a great space to talk about your experience, connect with new friends, or ask questions inside the community space.
If you have technical questions, concerns, or feedback about this FFB Workshop, please contact: jane@fitforbroadway.com
Caitlin does not directly receive questions through the FFB Online Workshop portal so please direct all Workshop related questions or concerns to jane@fitforbroadway.com Please refrain from sending Caitlin questions about FFB Workshop technical support on social media or within other interactions. FFB is here to support you!
By creating an online account with Fit for Broadway, you have declared that you will not share this information or content in any form, online or otherwise. Sharing content will be traced and we monitor IP addresses to ensure online workshops are not being accessed on numerous devices. Not complying with this will result in legal action or deactivation of your account. Thank you for your integrity.
Non-professional disclaimer: Instructor is not a licensed health professional. Any advice given is for educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician.
Content Warning: This workshop content (video, written, audio) discusses sensitive subjects about self-care and strong emotions. If you need help at any time, please call 1-(800) 931-2237 for the National Eating Disorders Hotline or 1-800-273-8255 for the National Suicide Prevention Hotline.