“What makes any act brave isn’t that it’s easy, but that it is done even amidst uncertainty and discomfort.” -Excerpt from SWC Reflections Who are you really? A 3-step Process to Know Who You Are and What You Want.

Welcome back to the Student Wellness Center’s Fall of Brave Connections! As we explore ‘Brave Connections’, we will continue to dedicate time and space to bringing  greater awareness to what bravery really looks (and feels) like and explore the ways we can activate this strength more intentionally into our lives.  Along the way we’ll reflect on many of the ways courage can be expressed with either ourselves, with others, or with the community.

In this week’s reflection, we will focus on the courage it takes to know and be our authentic selves. 

Before we can be brave in being (or staying) who we want to be, we first need to recognize who it is we actually want to be.  What values are guiding us towards that vision and what gets in our way from consistently being that person? Here are three ways to help you get started today:

• Know yourself better with this 12 minute Headspace meditation that guides you to “Connect you with your Core Self” and reminds you of the “beautiful things that make you unique.”

• Get clear on your values by identifying what is most important to you and what fills you with a sense of purpose.  Free journal on your own or check out the Living Into Our Values worksheet exercise created by research professor, Brene Brown, to help you gain greater clarity around this.

• Deepen self-awareness and kindly notice the times your actions, thoughts, words and intentions are counter to who you really are.  Mindfulness-based practices are one way to help you strengthen your attention and shine light on the moments that are not “you”. 

For some of us, what keeps us from being “who we want to be” has nothing to do with what is outlined above, but rather has everything to do with the systems and structures that are in place that can stifle our ability to speak up, to be our full selves, and to feel a sense of safety and trust to do so.  

With “Brave Connections,” we ask you to take a moment to consider areas of your life where you are more privileged or hold more power than others. Consider the systems you benefit from and how you can use your own power to courageously contribute to a community where there is equity and opportunity for all – even if it’s uncomfortable at times.  What makes any act brave isn’t that it’s easy, but that it is done even amidst uncertainty and discomfort.  

Stay tuned for the rest of fall term as we outline specific ways to support you in stepping more into the discomfort and vulnerability that ‘Brave Connections’ require.

Reflection Question:

What does it feel like when you are living into your values? What does it look like?