Today I to start another BE BRAVE project, not a formal one that people can join, but just begin to do the process again for myself for a month. Jessie started the BE BRAVE project back in October of 2007, and we both had so much growth from it. It involves just doing one thing each day that is brave---it could be anything at all, something right for where you are. The hard part is keeping it up day in day out, but this is what builds the bravery muscles. The things you do don't have to be big or grand; they can be tiny but breakthrough for you. It's the dailiness and the focus, not the task in and of itself that makes it a BE BRAVE task.So today was my Day 1. My task was very big. I took a big step in a relationship I'm in. It didn't work out well, but that wasn't the point. The point was that I took the step. I risked super big-time. The second part of this is maybe even better. I was pretty much devastated afterward, but instead of eating over it, or running away, I felt my feelings. I cried and howled and held my head and screamed and even vomited, but I felt the excruciating hurt. Then I slept for three hours. My eyes are sore and I'm kind of a mess, but I am proud of myself for doing something that I felt was right for me, even though it was risky.
I know that at the end of 30 days I'll be a braver person because I already am just from today.
Now for those of you who have never done BE BRAVE, it doesn't have to be this nasty. It is generally good, and may feel like the most wonderful thing you've ever done in your life. You can control the unpleasantness by not choosing big huge things with crushing consequences. I just wanted to start out that way. I sort of dove in head first, knowing the water was filled with boulders. I did hit a rock, but I'm on the mend, and still glad to be back in the water.
~Photo by In Mother Words
UPDATE: Here is a link to Jessie's formal site kickoff!
16 comments:
hi olivia,
i'm really inspired that you are starting this project again; i was telling jessie recently that i think we all need a "booster session" of be brave. your willingness to share your life online is really inspiring.
oh, and i LOVED the garden video! i hope to have a garden like that one day -- i also hope to live in the pacific northwest someday too!
ruby
Thanks, ruby, and it's good to see you here at the happyluau, too.
You are hereby cordially invited to begin BE BRAVE :)
Did you know that I too went to grad school in psychology? And hoped to have a garden like this? And dreamed for 15 years to live here? Really, really. It can happen. We have a lot in common :)
Blessings and joy and welcome,
O
xxoo
Wow, what a cool idea.
yertle,
It is, indeed. See the logo at the right and everyone who is interested in this is welcome to join in.
Peace and blessings,
O
I want to do this, too. Thank you for sharing your path with us.
Olivia,
Kudos to you for tackling be brave again. I know I got a lot out of it the time I did it. One thing you learn is that being brave will not kill you. We tend to make it bigger than it has to be. Good luck.
Kate
Welcome, Kelly! Thank YOU for coming along for the journey. Love, O
Thanks, Kate, we do indeed! Love to you, O
good for you, olivia! i think just deciding to do "be brave" is very brave!!
O--it is so not a surprise to me to hear how you went about Day 1. You are simply not a half-steppin' lady!
I'm really proud of you for really going through it, not just living the confrontation (maybe not the right word, but you know what I mean), but going through the aftermath thoroughly and completely. Not surprised, because I have a great deal more faith in your strength than you sometimes do, but so happy for you!
Wow.
So, for Day 2 do you plan to swim from Seattle to Hawaii?
good for you, my friend!! :)
i'm sorry it was so painful of a start though. i suppose it can't get much harder than that though! it's all up from here, babe.
here's to being brave! :) again. :) :)
Thanks, Leah...more ways to be creative, too :) xxoo,O
PV, you know me so well! No, I do things intensely, don't I?
You do have a lot of faith in my strength, but that does help me...helps me to believe in myself, very much.
I'll be blogging about day 2 hopefully later today, and no, no swimming, but it sounds good!
Thank you x 10,
O
Thanks you, Jessie, and for kicking this off for us. It was good/painful/good. It is just BE BRAVE being BE BRAVE, with all it is, as you know. I will write you an email soon, Love to you, O
olivia, i DIDN'T know all of that about you; i look forward to CitM and learning more about you (and sharing more of myself as well!).
ruby
Thank you, ruby, me too you :) xxoo, O
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