How Vulnerability Makes Us Stronger
You aren’t weak when you choose to let down your guard
How Vulnerability Makes Us Stronger
You aren’t weak when you choose to let down your guard
Below is a brief excerpt from an article written by Anne, How Vulnerability Makes Us Stronger, for ThriveGlobal.com. To read it in it’s entirety, please visit their web site. We’re very thankful for the opportunity to contribute!
How Vulnerability Makes Us Stronger
Imagine that you made a mistake at work and decided to own up to it in front of your boss or coworkers. Or that you had a big fight with your partner and chose to be the first to apologize. You just made a decision to be vulnerable.
In the past, the idea of vulnerability was usually associated with weakness. Being vulnerable meant being susceptible to being hurt; showing vulnerability was the same as showing weakness.
In recent years, the word vulnerability has come to be used in a broader context — as in when you choose to share parts of yourself that you might be tempted to keep hidden. If you choose to show vulnerability with another person, that’s not a sign of weakness. It’s a conscious choice.
Happiness is a skill.
If you aren’t feeling very happy, satisfied, or content, look for blips of happiness. If you’re feeling angry, frustrated, or overwhelmed, look for blips of relief and realize that this too shall pass. No one is always happy or never happy. Happiness, just like sadness, and just about every other emotion happens in little blips. We get to choose which blips we focus on. #mindfulmonday #mindfulness #reslience #happiness #optimism #deliciousmoments #emotionalgrowth #personaldevelopment #mindset
What if you could break free from reactivity with a reset—a chance once and for all to define the life you want and create a path to get there, all while building resilience along the way? You can.
It’s time to delve into your automatic thought patterns, belief systems and daily habits to identify which ones are serving you. Resilience is built by deliberately cultivating productive beliefs, behaviors, and habits to intentionally break out of reactivity and live purposefully. If you have found yourself stuck in reactivity either before this pandemic or during it, remember to reset, practice #MindOverMoment, and purposefully build the life you deserve. It’s about what you do starting now that matters. #resilience #mindfulness #authorsofinstagram #booklaunchanniversary #breakout #liveonpurpose #habits #personalgrowth #reset #grow
Can a dog help you build resilience? 🐶
I have always been a dog lover, and as the mom of two fur babies of my own (I call them my therapy dogs), I thought the answer to this question was a no-brainer. It turns out that yes, dogs can improve our resilience and well-being IF we, the dog owners, raise them correctly.
Here are 5 ways Fido can improve your well-being:
1️⃣ Exercise
Dogs like walks, and it turns out that walks are good for people too.
2️⃣ Mindfulness
Dogs are naturally curious, sniffing and exploring their environment, 100% present in whatever they are doing. And when your dog licks your face to wake you up, puts his/her head on your lap, or nudges you to pet him/her, you are snapped back to the present moment.
3️⃣ Social Connection
Dogs are the best icebreakers. "Oh, your dog is so cute! What type of dog is it?" Aside from being a great pick up line, dogs create social connection.
4️⃣ Training
I love my dogs (an unhealthy amount), but they are horribly trained. Both dogs have trained me instead of the other way around. If you have a dog that is well-behaved, calm, and enjoyable to be around, they are likely to positively impact your well-being.
5️⃣ Purpose
Dogs give us a sense of purpose and an incredible opportunity to practice empathy. Our pups need us to feed them, walk them, spend time with them, and give them love.
Look for a longer post about how dogs can help us build resilience later this week on LinkedIn. Share a pic of your pup with me in the comments! 👇👇 #resilience #reset #mindfulness #mindovermoment #dogs #dogsofinstagram #dogmom #pets #therapydogs
Don’t neglect what brings you joy.
Sometimes it is easier said than done when you’re in the middle of it, but choosing optimism means you are deliberate about the way you interpret the adversity in your life.
Every situation, especially the difficult ones, provides an opportunity to challenge our self-defeating, negative thoughts. And this isn’t just fluff. Scientific research has proven that when you look at life through a lens of positivity, you are more likely to enjoy better mental and physical health. #mindfulmonday #mindfulness #resilience #optimism #choosejoy #protectyourpeace #mindovermoment #mentalhealth #mentalhealthmatters
Raising a child who suffers from mental illness is the hardest thing I have ever done, and it truly tests the meaning of unconditional love.
In the past I have felt conflicted, wondering if my son Evan’s story was mine to tell, but as he has gotten older, he has asked me to share his story as a way to help others. He understands the shame and stigma attached to mental illness first hand, and his bravery and courage in allowing me to share his story is one of my proudest accomplishments.
One in five adults and children struggle with a serious mental health problem in their lifetime, which means that every single one of us is impacted by this public health crisis. Join me on this #WorldMentalHealthDay in helping build awareness and acceptance for people with mental illness. We are all in this together. #mentalillnessawareness #mentalhealth #nami #resilience #advocate #togetherformentalhealth #reducethestigma
It's okay not to be okay.
There is no age requirement for mental illness. My son began exhibiting symptoms before he was a year old and was on his first anti-psychotic by the age of 4. I hear parents say, “it’s just a phase. It’s hormones”. It may be, but do you really want to take that chance? The worst thing you can do is ignore it, hope it goes away, or say things like, “This too shall pass”.
The only thing worse than struggling with a mental health issue is trying to convince people it’s real. It is isolating, overwhelming, and scary. If you or someone you know needs help, there is no shame in asking for it, and if someone asks you for help, don’t dismiss it.
The only way to reduce the stigma around mental health is to talk about it. I share our story as a way to let people know they are not alone. By sharing some of my experiences, many others have felt comfortable doing the same. It is my hope that you will share this post so others know they are not alone. #mentalillnessawarenessweek #mentalillnessawareness #mentalhealthcheckin #mentalhealth #emotionalwellbeing #reducethestigma #nami #mentalhealthadvocate #togetherformentalhealth #momsofmentalhealthkids #speaker #author #resilience #strongertogether
Anne Grady is a Speaker, Author, and #TruthBomb Dropper.
Anne shares practical strategies that can be applied both personally and professionally to improve relationships, navigate change, and triumph over adversity. And she’ll make you laugh while she does it. Anne is a two time TEDx speaker, and her work has been featured in numerous media outlets, including Harvard Business Review, Entrepreneur, Forbes, Fast Company and Inc. magazines, CNN, ESPN, and FOX Business. She is the best selling author of 52 Strategies for Life, Love & Work and Strong Enough: Choosing Courage, Resilience and Triumph.