Telling a true story about personal experience is not just a matter of being oneself, or even or finding oneself. It is also a matter of choosing oneself.
Interpretation
Sharing personal experiences involves authenticity and conscious choices about how we present ourselves.
In this quote, Harriet Lerner emphasizes that narrating one's own experiences goes beyond merely being authentic or on a journey of self-discovery. It entails a deliberate decision to embrace and present one's true self, highlighting the importance of choice in the expression of personal identity and stories.
In practice
This quote can inspire a personal development workshop focused on self-expression.
It is not fear that stops you from doing the brave and true thing in your daily life. Rather, the problem is avoidance. You want to feel comfortable so you avoid doing or saying the thing that will evoke fear and other difficult emotions. Avoidance will make you feel less vulnerable in the short run but, it will never make you less afraid.
Those of us who are locked into ineffective expressions of anger suffer as deeply as those of us who dare not get angry at all.
If we only listened with the same passion that we feel about being heard.
An intimate relationship is one in which neither party silences, sacrifices, or betrays the self and each party expresses strength and vulnerability, weakness and competence in a balanced way.
Although the connections are not always obvious, personal change is inseparable from social and political change.
However, if we wish to be compassionate with our fellow man, we must learn to engage in dispassionate analysis. In other words, thinking with our hearts, rather than our brains, is a surefire method to hurt those whom we wish to help.
You're so heavenly minded, you're no earthly good.
It is so easy to break down and destroy. _x000D_ The heroes are those who make peace and _x000D_ build.
If you enjoy your journey as a writer, you will never find it difficult to write.
We are more heavily invested in the theories of failure than we are in the theories of success.
Not to be able to stop thinking is a dreadful affliction, but we don't realize this because almost everyone is suffering from it, so it is considered normal. This incessant mental noise prevents you from finding that realm of inner stillness that is inseparable from Being.
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