Awhile back I wrote about boundary conditions and how when we expand our boundary conditions, we can find greater growth.
I am one that does not like to show too much emotion. All my life I have been steady, not too hot and not too cold. This has served me well in many things, but it has meant that I have a narrow range of emotions and it is limiting to me and impacts the way I connect with others.
In a recent class with leaders at Microsoft I pushed against my boundary conditions.
I shared the story about my son who was burned when he was one and how we stayed in the hospital for 3 weeks straight with him while he underwent medical care. As I shared the story this time it hit differently and I could feel emotions coming to the surface. Normally I would shift gears, compose myself and move on but because I knew I wanted to challenge myself I leaned into the moment and just went for it. Tears came and rather than feeling judged by the group there I felt care, love, and support.
My fears were that I would be judged and seen as weak but it was exactly the opposite. Another beautiful thing happened too, others in the group went to deep places for them at various points of the class. It felt like my leaning into my discomfort and pushing my edges gave permission to others to do the same.
Where is your edge? Your boundary condition? Are you pushing on it? If not I invite you to do it, not only for yourself but for those around you!
