Part of the reason I LOVE hosting the Men | Gather + Women | Circle is because beyond the connections made, it teaches each person in attendance the power they have over their own stories.
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Too often we hold a belief that we’re not in control of our own stories. At times they have been shaped and told for us. When we do speak up, we bend the details in order to conform. Sometimes we overshare, stepping outside of our comfort zones because of peer pressure, societal taboos and norms, or because we want to fit in and belong. Afterwards we feel exposed, violated and outside of ourselves. We feel wrong. Instead of understanding why, we shrug our feelings aside, developing a disconnect from our intuition. The truth is, we always KNOW when we’ve overstepped our personal boundaries.
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In these groups, I provide the topic and it’s complimenting worksheet, and then we sit to write. After, we reconvene. I lead with my story, sharing the truths and flaws I feel comfortable sharing. Then I open the floor. No one is ever obligated to speak, nor are they obligated to share anything beyond the safety of their self-constructed boundaries. And here is the magic of this exercise: it teaches us that no matter what, we are in control of our bodies, our thoughts, our words, our actions, and our stories. That we can choose to do, to act, to be who we want/need/desire to be. Not because everyone else is or isn’t sharing, but because each individual has the freedom to make a choice of their own.
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This moment of awareness, of pause, of stillness, allows us to be mindful of our action thereafter - big, small or none at all - instead of simply reacting. Therein lies immense personal strength, self-respect, and an abundance of compassion towards others.
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Confidence and Love. Neither of which are ego driven. Both pure, honest, genuine and empathic. When that clicks in the room - even if it’s just for ONE person - mmmmhmmm, Magic occurs. The power is in owning YOUR story, instead of your story owning YOU.

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