I’m going to take a risk by being vulnerable and transparent with this post. Even as I write this, I am thinking to myself, “What will people think”? “I’m a business owner, I can’t admit my faults and weaknesses because it could reflect poorly on my business and my abilities.” “Why should I share this with the world when I could write about something safe”. Well, here goes…
Last year I developed anxiety. The kind of anxiety that drains everything in your body and leaves you crying for no reason and on rare occasions, unable to even move, paralyzed by fear (of nothing in particular). My chest would feel tight like there was a big weight on it and it was hard to breathe. For months I had no idea what was happening to me and I thought I was dying (a little dramatic, I know) but finally a doctor told me, and I began to learn how to manage it. Before this point I thought people with anxiety were weak. I have always believed that I could will my way out of anything if I wanted it bad enough. And naturally, for some, when we’re young we naively think we can do this. Will power is a strength I’ve always admired and strived for. This new beast I faced showed me that sometimes you can’t just “woman up” and tough your way out of things. Sometimes you have to be okay with admitting your weaknesses and then, live on despite them. We each have them- weaknesses. So many of us are afraid of being seen for who we truly are. We are afraid we aren’t good enough and we don’t measure up to some invisible mark we have unconsciously set for ourselves. We are afraid if “they” really saw who we are they wouldn’t like us. Some of us have the opposite problem and are afraid to show our true potential for fear we will leave others behind, in our dust.
The older I get the more I realize taking risks is healthy. It’s good. It keeps us growing. We don’t always have to hide our bad or our ugly from each other. Each one of us has so much to offer the world and to be frank, others are missing out when we don’t let ourselves be vulnerable, be seen. For all of you Brene Brown fans out there, I will end with her famous quote, “Vulnerability is our Most Accurate Measurement of Courage”. If you haven’t seen her Ted talk on vulnerability, I encourage you to watch it.
I am thankful that times are changing so much that being vulnerable is encouraged and celebrated as a strength. I am thankful for risks that are worth taking. For the great things that come from stepping out of our comfort zones. I am thankful for my tribe- the amazing women I have in my life who love me for exactly who I am.
Cat Dobbs, Co-Founder + Former Surrogate