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Something Worth SharingTrue Badge of Honour
A dear friend - virtually part of our family - has been through the mill recently with his health. Things got so bad that he was moved to intensive care and his close family flew across the world to be with him, fearing the worst. Thankfully, he has now been discharged from hospital and continues to make good progress. While chatting to him on a video call a few days ago, he said that he was yet to process what had happened to him and to his wife. Admitting that something has - and potentially still is - impacting us is not easy. As leaders, parents, teachers and anyone else with responsibilities to others, this is especially challenging. Being able to admit to yourself that something has impacted you is the first step. This can even mean being able to give yourself permission to say that something hurt, has worried you, isn’t something to simply brush off and so on. Following this, we need to be able to admit to others that we are dealing with tough stuff, that there was - or is - something impacting us. I hate people wallowing in self-pity and playing the victim, however I’ve come to realise that simply admitting to yourself and others that you aren’t invincible, that things can go wrong, upset and challenge you is a strength. The willingness to be vulnerable and take ownership of yourself and what is impacting you is actually a positive. For much of my life I felt that admitting I have or am being impacted was a weakness and sign of failure. I felt that ‘I’m fine’ was enough and what everyone wanted to hear - including myself! I know that this will resonate with many of you. Holding these things in and suffering in silence isn’t a badge of honour - admitting to yourself how you feel and asking for help, that’s the true badge of honour.
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