Sorry – I don’t have time to explain (but I’ll be around – I found you through http://enchantingjuno.typepad.com/knit/)

Gotta run.

Bullwinkles last blog post..Multicolored cats

You have taught me so much about this. I had what felt like an insurmountable problem for a couple days and even though I knew I’d work through it, I worked through it infinitely quicker and easier because of your wisdom.

Why? Because I asked for help.

And then what? Someone validated that I was in a sucky place and offered to help me.

And now? Things don’t feel so insurmountable even though on the outside nothing has changed.

Why? Because I noticed I felt sucky, didn’t judge myself for it, sat with myself on the curb while I listened deeply, didn’t analyze myself to death, and – - – - asked for help.

I didn’t ask one person either. I asked several people. One person didn’t get it. Another told me don’t sit there, do something – no empathy there. Another said something that was a one size fits all “law of attraction” response which felt downright phoney.

But, then – there was that one person who was able to hear what was true for me, really get what it was like to be me – and made a special offer to talk about it.

So now what? Now I have the joy of weathering yet another storm, the knowledge that it really works to befriend myself all the time – whether the going gets tough or it’s smooth sailing, and the courage to ask for help when I feel isolated.

Why? Because you have been right out there modelling pain, the hard, sucky stuff and shown me how to do this. And also because you’ve modelled when things are great, being there for yourself through that as well and appreciating those who celebrate with you.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

The gifts you have which you share so generously are absolutely priceless!

@Christine: you are so right about how hard it is. Man, it is so hard. And I love that you’ve already experienced the truth of it.

@crossmage: these insights are huge. And I think especially for men, who (often, not always) have even bigger stuck stuff around these concepts fear and vulnerability and courage. Argh. so that’s very cool.

Last night I wondered who feels fear the most – the man doing things we would call courageous or the one doing things we would call cowardly. And based on my own experiences, when I am driven by my fears and concerns and behaving cowardly, I am hardly aware of the fears at all because I am so busy escaping them. When I face my stuffage and commit to walking through it, that is when I feel it.

When I am capable of identifying my feelings and being open to others, I may sound like a man in trouble. But when I am actually in trouble, then I am saying nothing at all. So if i can be vulnerable, then I am often doing well. If I can face and name my fears, then I can ask for help in dealing with them.

Thank you for sharing this. It’s a wonderful paradox, and you shine a wonderful light on it.

crossmages last blog post..Living in Daytight Compartments

Kelvin Kaos last blog post..New Video! (With New Puppets!)

Keep writing, posting, leading us to water because we are drinking like there’s no tomorrow.

Guess I should take down that life size Havi idol I have up on the pedestal….Selma can stay though…

and

“Because success doesn’t mean you don’t have any problems any more. It just means you’re strong enough to ask for help.”

Can I quote you on that? LOL

All kidding aside, the fact that you are not afraid to be real, are not all BS-y, and have some great wisdom to dispense is what keeps me coming back here again and again…some of it, I hope, will eventually sink in :)

Evelines last blog post..Quiet Saturday Night

I thought I was fairly self-reflective. Nothing like starting to talk about business struggle publicly to uncover whole new depths of pain and power. You are so right, get the support forces aligned and get ready to use them.

Christine Martells last blog post..Learning from my business: About branding

You need a book. One with your wisdom and humor and ideas, one that we can read in an online book club like The Next Chapter. I think I’d like your book better than 12 Secrets.

rowenas last blog post..A Painting Break and a Giveaway Link