Happy Friday Virtus Family!
When I was younger, I vividly remember both of my wonderful Grandmothers, Nanna and Ma, reading countless books to me. I would avidly listen in and engage in the stories, hanging off every word. Amongst those books, there were many stories of bravery, courage and valour.
As children, we are taught a very narrow view of bravery. We are told that being brave, is facing up to the monster that is terrorising a village or confronting the dragon which has taken the princess. But bravery isn’t always like it is in the books, stories and nursery rhymes. Bravery doesn’t always make the news, the world isn’t always at stake and there certainly isn’t (always) a dragon involved.
In modern life, acts of bravery are a little different and usually they are a little more subtle than running into a burning building or putting your body on the line to save someone. Yes these things are acts of bravery, but being brave is so much more.
Bravery is to act in a courageous way. To be able to confront your fear, and move towards it, regardless of how scared you may be.
In the midst of crippling depression or anxiety, simply getting out of bed is brave.
It is brave to stand up for what you believe in, especially when you stand alone.
Holding a mirror to your beliefs, biases and actions is bravery.
Quitting a job you dislike, ending a toxic relationship, enrolling in a course you are worried about not being able to complete, all of these things epitomise bravery.
Practicing self love, giving yourself space, taking the foot off the pedal, amidst a global pandemic nonetheless, these things are brilliant acts of courage.
We hear words like bravery, courage and valour, and we think of the things I mentioned above. But when we hear the word vulnerability, our minds wander to another place, potentially even thoughts of struggle, sadness and weakness.
The simple truth is that this not reality. Vulnerability is a synonym of bravery, courage and valour. To be brave is to show vulnerability, and to show vulnerability is to be brave.
Without vulnerability, there is no bravery, there is no courage, and there is no valour. If you think about it, there’s no knight in shining armour or heroic fireman either. I don’t know about you all, but I want to live in a world where vulnerability is commonplace.
A world where people share their dreams, fears and frustrations. A world where we can come together as a community, listen, hear and lend a hand when and where we can. A world where we can completely be ourself, warts and all, because we know that it will create immense feelings of safety, belonging and love amidst our communities.
We are feeling elements of this kind of world at the moment.
Right now, we are all feeling vulnerable. Physically, Financially, Socially and Emotionally.
Well, I know I am, as are the wonderful humans I’m speaking to every day, so I can only assume everyone is feeling pretty similar.
We are all feeling all of the feelings, frustrations, anxiousness and uncertainty that comes hand in hand with new experiences. We are all feeling (at times) disconnected and discontented.
I’m going to say this twice for effect.
It’s ok to feel the way you’re feeling, it’s okay to have doubts, it’s okay to be scared.
One more time.
It’s ok to feel the way you’re feeling, it’s okay to have doubts, it’s okay to be scared.
The best thing you can do is to lean into this vulnerability, to feel what you need to feel, to connect with those around you. Give yourself time and space to embrace and accept these feelings.
if you do this, you will build your capacity to face your fear and do it anyway.
I think I’ve written this line multiple times over the past month, but here it is again.
No feeling is final, keep going.
Keep being brave, keep showing up, and keep moving forward.
Onwards.
Lachie
