It never feels good to be criticised, but are you able to receive praise after a job well done?
In my coaching group this week, one of my peers asked how my keynote at the Black and Asian Therapists Network conference went, and I felt myself shrink into shameful smallness. I played it down and sheepishly said it went well until my coach piped up and said how brilliant it was and how I should share the audio I had sent him of it to the Wassap group!
The truth is, he was right. It was brilliant.
The exploration of melanated mother wounds and the links to underearning in business connected at a deep level. There were tears in the audience, laughter, a standing ovation, and a queue of folks wanting to talk to me afterwards.
In that moment with my peer, I was afraid of my own power. I was afraid to share the truth about my gift for fear of being rejected or labeled arrogant and uppity. How dare I, a smart, queer, Black woman, fix my mouth to speak in such a powerful way?
With deeper exploration, I realised that this was a younger part trying to protect me from painful teen memories of being punished for wanting to be myself. For wanting to be visible on my own terms.
The system also certainly doesn’t want me out here empowering folks, so of course my protective parts are going to be activated. However, because of my healing work, I was able to extend compassion to those conflicted parts that have different relationships to my visibility and do the next right thing. My warrior part was able to share about my vulnerability and post the keynote to the group, letting go of the outcome! There was more powerful feedback that I let myself receive.
You deserve to be seen, heard, and celebrated too June! When we lean into this internal expansion around receiving, we tell the Universe that we’re open to receive the blessings that are our birthright.
Today, I invite you to explore where you are minimising your ‘standing ovation’? How can you celebrate your brilliance for a recent job well done?
Affirmation: When I open my heart to receiving, I am a magnet for melanin miracles!
P.S. Wanna hear the keynote? If you’re a therapist or wellness professional, click here to sign up and listen.