Human Connection: The Power of Vulnerability
Tue, July 31, 2012 at 18:10 Tweet
Human Beings have an instinctive desire to connect giving our lives meaning and purpose. Human connection is our ability to empathise, belong and love. I and over 5 million others have watched Brene Brown’s poignant and funny TED talk about ‘The Power of Vulnerability’.
My plan is to interpret the essence and main themes of Brown’s research and how it relates to careers.
Similar to Brene I will tell you a story. Career change, career management or development culminates into 3 questions: identifying and understanding who you are (self awareness), identifying where you currently are (present) and what you want (future). The questions appear simple, although we know identifying the answers involve a journey of exploration, discovery, implementation and integration of key learning into our lives. Whilst reflecting on my own experience the answers to these questions involved learning, being honest and understanding ourselves and other people and clarity. Most people find this a challenge to do on their own and decide to involve a Career Guide.
Brene talks about emotions such as shame and fear. You know the ones; I’ve described these emotions in detail and how to work with them in some of my other blogs. These emotions and the corresponding dramas that play out in our mind, such as ‘I’m not good enough and their everlasting consequences ~ desperation, feeling stuck, anxiety and boredom are common themes identified by people as they begin to probe the interference and answer these 3 questions. Underpinning these emotions is vulnerability. The ability to let go, be open and authentic to you and make a different choice based on courage, compassion and connection. When people plug into courage, compassion and connection a sense of worthiness, abundance and possibility surfaces. People become focused, clear and transparent and they experience emotions such as joy, happiness and gratitude.
In relation to career change and vulnerability ~ Brene suggests and I agree that vulnerability is the birthplace of joy, creativity, belonging and love. People who are struggling with their career and choose to focus on it and become clear are in effect opening themselves up for great rewards, at least from my experience and the experience I’ve been privileged to be part of with former clients. When you decide to shed the skin of boredom, anxiety and fear and unlock your potential by answering the questions I’ve identified above, you are engaging with being congruent with who you are and what you want. It is a powerful and worthwhile strategy.
Tell your story with a whole and open heart, be kind to yourself and others and be who you are as opposed to whom others want you to be. In essence be authentic and real. Our ever evolving economic landscape requires authentic leaders that engage in self awareness, emotional intelligence, continuous learning blended with flexibility and adaptability to navigate us onto growth.
About the author:
Stephanie Mount is a Position Ignition Guide. She is profoundly interested in people and their potential. Stephanie engages with individuals to discover their most authentic self (the positive energy, their passions and strengths). Stephanie’s diverse career in the helping profession spans two continents. She uses her international experience, professional knowledge and living as an expatriate to enable others to create a fulfilling and balanced life. Stephanie is an adventurer, passionate about the ‘great outdoors’ and travelling to far flung places on this beautiful planet.
