Time to Show Up More Fully …
“Courage starts with showing up and letting ourselves be seen …. Because true belonging only happens when we present our authentic, imperfect selves to the world.” Brene Brown (The Gifts of Imperfection).
It had finally happened! One year ago, a decade after the vision for PeerRx had been planted in me, I hit the “make public” button on the PeerRxMed website, and the program was officially “out there.” As excited as I was, I was equally surprised as to how hard it was for me to do this. The vulnerability I felt in sharing this dream more widely was quite real, and my fears that it wouldn’t be “perfect” or some might think it was “soft” or “trite” and the potential criticism that may arise almost prevented me from moving ahead.
But I’m so very glad I did. And what a year it has been. From podcast interviews to a journal publication to press releases to dialogues with well-being leaders from across the country to presentations – most recently for the AMA Professional Satisfaction and Practice Sustainability webinar series ( Link to webinar recording ), and most importantly, for a growing group of colleagues who have chosen to be part of the PeerRx movement, the response has been quite heartening. And I had no idea when I hit that button that 2 weeks later the World Health Organization would declare the coronavirus outbreak a global pandemic, changing our lives forever and making the need for peer connection even more pressing.
Indeed, despite my hesitation, I’m so glad I made the decision to “show up” in my greater fullness and let my more authentic self be seen. As Brene Brown indicates (and has built a career upon), many of us don’t allow wonderful, deeply important parts of ourselves to be “seen” due to our fear as to how those parts will be received. It is often our shame and fear and vulnerability that also hold us back from bringing our most important Gifts to the world. If that is true for you, her antidote is a life-giving concoction of self-compassion and courage and connection.
I believe that the PeerRx process can help you find the “voice” that is your better self and help you release your even greater Gifts to the world. And the world could sure use multiple doses of “better selves” and “greater Gifts” right now. So thanks in advance for having the courage to invite your authentic, imperfect, compassionate and inter-connected self to show up more this week and beyond. You’ll be a better you because of it, and it will likely inspire others to do the same.