I Thought It Was Just Me

The pressure you are experiencing is unbelievable. It feels like anxiety, depression, and stress all rolled into one. As much as you try to push those feelings aside, external pressures begin mounting their attack. The quest for perfection is exhausting. Everywhere you turn, from broadcast media to social media – there are messages that tell you how you are supposed to behave, what you are supposed to look like, and who you are supposed to be.

In order to protect yourself from this full frontal assault, you have learned to hide your struggles to protect yourself from judgement, criticism, and blame. To escape this shadow of shame, you seek safety in pretending while hiding behind a mask of perfection. This cycle has left you weary, isolated, and defeated. Dr. Brené Brown, well known author and speaker, sums it up with the title of her latest book, “I Thought It Was Just Me.”

You are not alone in how you are feeling.

Dr. Brown interviewed hundreds of people over the course of seven years of research for this project in order to bring us back to an important truth that has been overshadowed for far too long. She wants you to know, “Our imperfections are what connect us to each other and to our humanity. Our vulnerabilities are not weaknesses; they are powerful reminders to keep our hearts and minds open to the reality that we’re all in this together.”

That is the reason we have Life Coaching Groups at Sunrise Center for Wellness. It is also the reason we are going through this book together. It is a reminder of our need for connection. Empathy is powerful – whether you are in a position of giving or receiving, it plays a vital role in dealing with anxiety, working through stress management, or fighting through depression in a safe environment that is free from judgement and shame.

Contact me. New groups are starting soon and I’d like to personally invite you to join us.

For the record, you are not the only one who feels this way. It is time for you to connect with others who are on a similar journey and enter an encouraging environment where no one expects perfection. Life Coaching Groups are a safe place for you to be real. Dr. Brown writes, “We need our lives back. It’s time to reclaim the gifts of imperfection – the courage to be real, the compassion we need to love ourselves and others, and the connection that gives true purpose and meaning to life.”

The pressure you are feeling is real. So is the freedom that is available to you. Put down the mask and embrace your wonderful imperfections. Shame is no longer an option. Know that it takes courage to open up and be vulnerable. But you will find that as you open your heart and mind to the reality that we are all in this together; your vulnerability will release a strength that allows you to reconnect with your own humanity and rediscover the beauty of who you truly are.