"To share your weakness is to make yourself vulnerable; to make yourself vulnerable is to show your strength". I read this quote a while back on the Instagram page of an organization called I Am That Girl. It struck me and as I looked more into the organization's page and mission what I found was not only really cool but also challenging. How often do we sit across from someone we are with and know minor if any details about their story? Flipping that how many people that sit across from you would say they have heard your story? What one encounters in life is not only individual and unique to them but also a beautiful picture of what has made them who they are today. Humanity is together by a puzzle of pieces depicting moments of struggle and success. This connection is powerful but how can it be possible if we are closed books ourselves?

The past of what we have been through can sometimes be rather embarrassing. it can try our core of emotions and remind us of the hard moments but it also can introduce others to an area of space where they can feel comfortable with their own journeys as well as gain strength or wisdom from ours. Being vulnerable doesn't have to mean spilling out every detail about yourself to someone you may or not not trust, but instead it means being open and available to everything about yourself. It means knowing ourselves for who we are not who we desire to be. For example maybe its knowing your love language or what you're passionate about and not being ashamed in whatever that answer may be. Then taking things a step further asking people the questions in interactions with them that you would want someone to ask you and not being afraid to respond yourself. It's when you really put yourself out there in confidence that people pick up on that and feel safe to do the same.

So friends whether it is a rough past, an insecurity, a fear that someone will judge or reject you I challenge you this week as well as myself to be open books. An open book when someone asks for our help, when someone wants to talk, when we are afraid of what will come put the mask down and be real. That courage will be not only noticed but will open a door for more depth and deep love not only with those around you but personally and with the life you walk through day to day. After all as the campaign says "courage is vulnerability, vulnerability is courage, like shadow and light neither one can exist without the other". You never know what could be to come. Comment below with personal experiences and stories that stick out to you with this :)