This is Day 3 of 31 Days of Intentional Community. Thanks for reading along!
It's a familiar conversation for me.
"Hey! How are you?"
"Good, you?"
I really have to war against this canned response. It comes out so naturally before I even have a chance to think about whether there's any truth behind it or not.
Am I good? Or if I want to be grammatically correct, am I really doing well?
Oftentimes there is a bit of an untruth there. I always carry with me the knowledge that God is sovereign and in control, so in that sense there is always a grain of truth to that statement. Because of His grace, I can I always find some goodness wherever I find myself.
But that quick response doesn't allow me to make known what's really going on in my heart-- my struggles of the day may relate to motherhood, discontent, family drama, work stress, whatever.
In whatever group of people we are trying to develop deep relationships and true friendships, we have to be willing to be real and authentic. No relationship is going to go beyond the superficial without the baring of the soul to some extent.
“Authenticity is a collection of choices that we have to make every day. It's about the choice to show up and be real. The choice to be honest. The choice to let our true selves be seen." ~Brené Brown
It can be scary to be real with people, especially before we know them well. It takes an element of vulnerability, which essentially means we have to open up ourselves to potential attack or criticism. Thankfully, it also means we open ourselves to some real blessings as well though.
“Vulnerability is the birthplace of love, belonging, joy, courage, empathy, and creativity. It is the source of hope, empathy, accountability, and authenticity. If we want greater clarity in our purpose or deeper and more meaningful spiritual lives, vulnerability is the path.” ~Brené Brown
If we want more meaningful relationships in the various realms of our community, we have to strive for authenticity. We have to be willing to share our hearts. So next time someone asks us how we're doing, let's strive to give an honest answer.
Do you struggle with being authentic? What makes sharing your heart harder or easier?