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.
Will not be punished for your anger, your anger is the punishment.
In the garden of gentle sanity, _x000D_ May you be bombarded by coconuts of wakefulness.
If you start thinking war is inevitable, then in your own times, you don't resist it as strongly as you should.
Perfectionism is self destructive simply because there's no such thing as perfect. Perfection is an unattainable goal.
There [is] no innocence more dangerous than the innocence of age.
Always face what you fear. Have just enough money, never too much, and some string. Even if it’s not your fault, it’s your responsibility. Witches deal with things. Never stand between two mirrors. Never cackle. Do what you must do. Never lie, but you don’t always have to be honest. Never wish. Especially don’t wish upon a star, which is astronomically stupid. Open your eyes, and then open your eyes again.
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