Bravely.

When it’s easier to hide, I step into the light. Bravely.

Pain can be comfortable, if it’s familiar. One can spend an entire lifetime choosing to live in pain, in that dark and familiar place, thinking they are avoiding it. Going about life, unconsciously playing whichever role has been assigned. Perpetuating cycles built on faulty programming, sleep-walking in a constant state of survival mode. We stay in this unconscious state because of fear. Fear truly is powerful enough to keep a soul from living. Waking up is hard work. Choosing to stay awake is brave. They say brave is the new beautiful, you know.

I stay awake by stepping right into the uncomfortable parts of fear. Head on, and scared like hell. Like jumping out of an airplane for the first time. Reprogramming faulty thought patterns, developing new coping skills, trusting myself, finding my voice, speaking my truth… even if my voice shakes. Falling down, getting hurt and picking myself up. I will not sleepwalk again. I will forever choose to step back into the arena, battle scars and all…and I will do so, bravely.

This post was written in response to Linda G. Hill’s Stream of Social Consciousness Saturday. Check out the link below.