Missteps Are Risk Steps

It’s not the letting go 

but the free fall 

that is important 

drop into your soul 

feel the rush 

of finally taking 

the risk of being 

who you are

So, I did a thing. Invited the wisdom of others into my life. A big, humbling wow to those people who shared! Throughout this year, I will share the wisdom gifted to me. So far, within the wisdom I have discovered a powerful reframe — all my missteps are risks that drew me closer to who I am.

The questions that I ask myself…and invite you to answer:

Who am I? 

What parts of me make me uncomfortable? 

How have I made peace with the edgier parts of me?

Those three questions are tough to answer. Since we are in constant evolution, they cannot be definitively answered. Just as we discover the answer, as we let go of who are not and become more comfortable with our self, deeper uneases break free and rise to the surface. Each time we answer these questions deeper uneases rise to our consciousness.

Answering and asking those questions again is a lifelong endeavor. We return to them over and over again. In the answers we discover deeper parts of ourself. Maybe we discover a few more queries that invite us to risk more — to unapologetically show the world who we are. And, in our sharing are found real acts of bravery.

Although I didn’t specifically ask for how people saw me — many people shared how they saw me. I was humbled and honored that some took the ultimate risk of wise honesty. I challenge you to ask others how they see you.

Some wise words: 

From J, two comments: “you treat everyone the same. It doesn’t matter if the person is an authority figure, a peer, or someone who needs help. You treat everyone with compassionate respect.” Which led to her second comment: “You are unapologetically you.” 

Although the words at first made me uncomfortable, what she identified are integral to who I strive to be. 

From B: “That you for the gifts and challenges you offer. You are SEEN!” 

The Big Risk

B identified the edgier part of me: the one who isn’t afraid to ruffle feathers, to encourage change, to bring peace to an uncertain world. She also uncovered a fear — that I am invisible. Yes, she told me, “You are SEEN!”

For me, this celebration was a big risk. Who would participate? What would they share? With those questions answered, I discovered unconditional love and compassion.

Most of the comments were wise morsels that resonated with me. Some encouraged me to risk. Each wisdom spark invited me to dig deeply into who I am and root out the stuff that isn’t who I truly am. Those shards are birthed by my woundedness. I vow to heal them so I may be a stronger, more compassionate presence in the world. 

Maybe growing into the wisdom while letting go of the shards of who-i-am-in-the-moment but who-i-do-not-want-to-be is where I am called to be as I walk more deeply into my 60s…into the revelations of and living forward in wisdom.

So who are you? It doesn’t matter what your age. You are a living, breathing wisdom seeker, a risk taker. What risks do you take in each moment to share you with the world? 

 

Vanessa F. Hurst, ms, is an intuitive-coach-catalyst. As a contemplative coach, she uses mindfulness practices and intuition tools to create strategies for navigating those places may scare us or bring us joy. The result of time with Van? Creating a blue print for your life through a deeper connection to your intuition and contemplative nature. She is a professional speaker & author who weaves inner wisdom into all she touches. Her books are available @ www.wildefyrpress.com. Her most recent book, As Natural As Breathing: Being Intuitive, is available on Amazon. Contact Vanessa for life coaching, intuitive consultations, keynotes, and programs.

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