An Invitation to Join Me in Mediation and Vulnerability (even if you think it’s sort of crazy)

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vulnerability post time! dr. brene brown (watch her first TED talk) is my social worker/entrepreneur/amazing woman idol. she is my dream mentor so brene…if you’re reading this, let’s grab lunch and teach me your ways.

 

“vulnerability is the core of shame, fear and the struggle of worthiness..but it also appears that vulnerability is also the birth place of joy, creativity, of belonging, of love.”

 

this is how courage was originally defined:

couarge header

brene (we are on a first name basis in my head) goes on to talk about how we numb vulnerability and how you cannot selectively numb emotions.

 

you cannot just choose to numb out grief, anxiety, vulnerability, shame, etc. but then say ” i just want to feel joy, gratitude, and happiness.” that’s not how it works. if we decide to attempt to numb the negative emotions, we numb everything out including the ones that bring us great joy.

 

she also wrote a book called “the gifts of imperfection” that has been very powerful to read. in fact, i am rereading it and would highly recommend you get a paperback copy so you can highlight the phrases and information that speak to you.

brene brown gifts of imperfection

last year was insane. so much excitement, so many challenges and so much travel/moving. the 50 city tour that my husband and i orchestrated last year, moving to houston and back to portland and starting our own business(es) has been completely overwhelming.

 

sometimes to get through events and workshops or even the work day, i unconsciously started numbing out my anxiety, which in turn has lead me to not feeling as much happiness or as present in my life as i want to be.

 

i want to change this so i’m being vulnerable about it, writing about it and doing something about it. i am joining oprah and deepak chopra’s 21-day meditation experience, expanding your happiness! you can join here for FREE to get the daily meditations emailed to you and we can do it together! i

 

know i won’t have daily access to email while my husband and i are traveling to malaysia and thailand in the middle of these 21 days, but i’m not using that as an excuse not to do this. i will catch up when i get access.

 

don’t worry, i have zero experience with meditating except doing their free introduction to it (and i felt strangely better afterwards) so they will teach us and we can learn. it starts on monday, august 11 so i’m excited to have about a week of it before i have to travel for 30 hours and i already know this will help with my travel anxiety. you can sign up here.

 

i am looking forward to feeling more present in my everyday life and reframing my mind to appreciate that when i feel anxiety, that at least means i’m alive and alert. in return, i get to feel deeper joy, love and happiness. that seems like a much better deal than feeling numb. please feel free to send this to friends and family too!

 

this is our dog sugar and this is her meditation spot.

marriage blog sugar

question:
1) have you meditated before? are you joining us??
2) do you get anxiety when you travel?
3) do you have any preconceived notions about mediating? (i sort of always rolled my eyes about it and thought it might be too ‘woo-woo’ for me but i’m ready to try new things so i can get to a healthier me)

7 Comments

  1. Patrice Esper

    August 8, 2014 at 5:45 pm

    I have signed up!
    I have never done this before…
    I am in a place where I think I need it…
    I love travel however the process of going through security does make me nervous, not like before…

    • chelsea

      August 9, 2014 at 1:02 pm

      woohoo! so glad you’re signed up with me patrice!! i’ve never done it before either so we can be newbies together 🙂 agreed…loved what travel gets me the process isn’t my fav.

  2. Paula Howley

    August 8, 2014 at 9:59 pm

    wow, funny you should post this today Chelsea- I actually thought it was in regards to the global meditation that was happening today at 9:00 am PST.
    I have many friends who participated in it and I actually had the event on my calendar too in preparation for it.
    Then my little brother, whom I haven’t seen in 3 years messages me out of the blue at about 10 pm “Hey, I’m in Vancouver- wanna hang out?” so I’m up till 2:30 getting the house together cause he’s coming over Satruday and I wake up about 10 min after 9 and totally forget about said worldwide peace meditation. BUGGER.
    Anyway, I have done it but I mostly pray- as far as I’m concerned, being intentional about your energy, no matter how you do it, is really important. Quiet time in the mind is crucial to insight. I think you’ll find it invigorating and maybe a little scary but empowering too. I am happy for you and I will join you too. 🙂

    I get a little anxiety when I travel- not too much anymore though. I had a bad plane experience once and that put me off for quite a while but no biggie anymore.
    Paula Howley recently posted…Public Presentations For Kids

    • chelsea

      August 9, 2014 at 1:03 pm

      i was too busy writing this post yesterday and completely missed the global meditation! sounded great though. hope you are having a total and completely blast with your brother!!! so thrilled you are joining us too-yay! i need that quiet in the mind or to be in the mind at all 🙂

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  4. jennifermckennasays

    September 3, 2014 at 7:33 pm

    I LOVE Brene Brown! She rocks and she is alreadt your friend. Of course, this makes sense – you are both so awesome –
    I joined the challenge ! (albeit late, but joined)

    • chelsea

      September 4, 2014 at 3:36 pm

      hoooray! hopefully you are still able to access the meditation. i wasn’t able to do the full course because of travel and internet issues but it was really great! and brene brown is fabulous!