Vulnerability in Public

Here’s a note on how choosing vulnerability can transform moments of fear or discomfort into opportunities for expansion and connection. Welcome to my story time 😆

Sooo my place of work offers these pretty cool educational opportunities for families to come together and learn together. This was my third time facilitating a live conversation for in-the-moment learning and growth. Yesterday, the topic was emotional attunement and co-regulation. Even though I love this topic and it feels most natural for me to engage with people on, I definitely felt nervous about going in front of everyone to speak.
Something I like to do whenever I’m speaking in front of people is to model the bravery and honesty I hope others will embrace for themselves. What do I mean by that? Well, as I stood in front of the families, sensing my heartbeat quicken and feeling as if I were holding my breath, I took a moment to acknowledge the nervousness coursing through my body (instead of pushing it away). I chose to be 100% honest the moment I introduced myself: “Y’all, I feel so nervous right now.”

In response to my vulnerability, some parents sitting up front told me they were nervous with me. & there we were, all laughing about it together LOL. *Exhale* Can you imagine the natural calm that washed over my nervous system after that? 😅

From that point on, I felt deeply connected—not only to my body and my own inner experience but to all the humans in the room with me. What a beautiful gift presence is when we slow down enough to be with our experience. By honoring my state of being and showing up authentically (which is my favorite thing to do), I was able to create a real moment of connection with the families in a way I don’t think trying to be ‘perfect’ would have allowed me to. And for that, I am deeply grateful.

What are your thoughts about vulnerability in public? Have you done it before, would you do it before?