Podcast 10/52 – a pledge and a challenge

Publicerad den 8 mars, 2015 av Helena Roth

“I have no intake at all of any feedback or criticism from anyone who’s not in the arena.”

That’s one of the quotes from this episode of Good Life Project with Brené Brown that really hit home for me: Brené Brown – On Gratitude, Vulnerability and and Courage.

She talks about what type of feedback she’s getting, and how she’s gotten very self knowledgeable as to what type of feedback she’ll even begin to consider to take in. The ones filled with love, with ”you’ve changed my life”, or the even grander ”you’ve saved my life”, she doesn’t want to read. It’s too much for her, and it’s not constructive, in the sense it doesn’t give her anything to work further with. The ones filled with hatred, she’s not looking at, at all, there’s no sense in that, whatsoever. What she does like are the constructive ones, suggesting she look into someone else research, a book or a study she should have included in her own research, and so on.

All of that makes perfect sense to me, but what really hit home was that quote that I shared at the top:

What she’s saying there is this: if you are not vulnerable, putting yourself out there, in any way, shape or form, I’m not going to listen to what you have to say about me being vulnerable and putting myself out there.

I remember when I first listened to this episode. I heard what she said. All of a sudden, it made such perfect sense to me! Anyone not daring to be vulnerable, sharing themselves in that honest, open and authentic way (in any kind of arena, in any form, but putting themselves out there!) that Brené herself does so well, is not a good judge/critic of my vulnerability, of me putting myself out there. But if you do put yourself out there, if you are amongst those daring to be vulnerable, I am very interested in taking in what you have to share.

Today, on the International Women’s Day of 2015, that’s the message I want to help spread – if you dare to be vulnerable, then please also dare to reject the criticism and hatred of those who dare not, those who share not. Hatred doesn’t come from those who dare, it doesn’t come from those who share. No, from those on the arena, you will receive love, respect, compassion and empathy.

So this is my pledge:
I will dare to be vulnerable.
I will put myself out on the arena.
I will share and be love.

And here’s my challenge to you:
Dare to be vulnerable.
Put yourself out on the arena of your choice.
Share and be love.

I’m hoping more people will dare to be vulnerable, because I think that’s the way forward to that loving society that I envision. So. Is this a challenge you’re willing to take on?

Listen/Read/Watch – Sept ’14

Publicerad den 9 september, 2014 av Helena Roth

Read a beautiful post on Born Happy the other day, and got inspired. Figured why not create a playlist of the month just like Lian did, and let you in on what moves me this month, when it comes to listening, reading and watching! So here it goes:

Listen
Last year and the previous 5 or so were my blog reading years, but I’ve not followed a single blog continously during 2014. Instead, 2014 has been a pod-year for me, when I’ve listened to more pod talks than ever before! This month I’m heavily into The one you feed, and three talks stand out especially for me. I’ve listened to them all more than once, and hear different things each time. The episodes with Lama Kathy Wesley, Timber Hawkeye and Jonathan Fields are all great choices to get yourself acquianted with The one you feed.

Read
OK, so I’m not a proliferent blog reader anymore, but that doesn’t mean I don’t read. I do. Books. Loads of books. I have been turning to fiction again lately, since my head starts spinning with new thought when I read non-fiction at bed time. A book that really made an impact on me was The Buddha in the attic by Julie Otsuka. It’s a strange read, but it captured me from page one, and made me feel as if I had to keep on reading. A little bit like I have to keep on breathing. That urge to draw one more breath, when the air has left my lungs, was the urge I had while reading this book. I just wanted to read one more page, hear the voice of yet one more – anonymous – Japanese bride. The book opened me up to a moment in history which I have not given much thought before.

Watch
Watched the movie Pay it forward with my two children last Friday. The eldest was amazed that I had never seen it before, but I just haven’t gotten around to it. Now I have though, and boy were we crying our eyes out at the end of the movie. It’s a lovely little film, because of the general message, which is paying it forward, meaning (in this film) to do something (big) for three other people, who in turn have to do something (big) for three other people and so on. It’s a concept I am fond of, and believe in, mostly because I see it as a way to jolt me into being human, rather than doing human. Why? Well, because what stops me from being human is usually just my thoughts. Thoughts of ”Oh, well I can’t make a difference, can I?”, ”What will this person think if I do something for them?” or even worse ”What might someone else think…”. Know what I mean? When I am being human, I connect to that which connects us all, all the time, and acts on it. Big or small, doesn’t really matter to me, but just being that person makes a difference.

What have you been listening to, reading or watching this past month, that you’d like to share? Won’t you please write a comment (please write on on Lian’s original post as well, spreading your playlist to a larger audience as well!) and give us your best tips, ok?

Library @ Tallinn airport

Publicerad den 4 maj, 2014 av Helena Roth

Svara

Just beside my gate there was a library, at the Tallinn airport. I got curious already when I flew in to Tallinn, but didn’t take time to investigate then. But once I was checked in and had passed thru security, I had an hour to kill, so I got to take as close look at it. And yet again, I got even more proof that this really is the world’s cosiest airport. Check it out yourself:

Again, I must say this is a really nice idea, and they even open up for travelers to share their experiences and books. I know the concept of sharing books in public places isn’t an original one. But I haven’t seen it in an airport before, have you?