Recently I was having a conversation with a good friend who I often joke is my unpaid therapist. She makes me think in the best possible ways.
We were talking about how so many things in life feel so challenging lately. She commented back that it must be nice that most things come so easily for me.
To be honest I was blown away. I can’t think of one thing in my life that has come easily for me and I told her so.
It’s like an iceberg. People only see the tip of our successes and do not see all the work and struggle that is below the surface. And this friend pointed out it’s because often we don’t allow people to see below the surface. Wow that one struck a chord with me!
I know I can’t be the only one who struggles to only show the tip of the iceberg to others can I?
Even inadvertently.
We hide the struggles in our life for various reasons. Shame. Desire to appear perfect. Afraid to seem vulnerable.
Whatever the reason is we can’t expect people to relate to our struggles if we never let them come below the surface with us.
Now, I’m a huge believer in only sharing certain aspects of our lives with trusted people. We don’t have to air our dirty laundry for the world to see. There isn’t a set formula on what and who we all should share our struggles with either.
What might be comfortable (or at least tolerant) for me to share might be shocking to you and vice versa.
But then we can’t be upset when people only see our successes and assume it all comes easy to us.
On the flip side, maybe we could stop making assumptions about people!
I promise there is more than meets the eye to every single person you meet.
More struggles.
More challenges.
More heartache.
More growth.
More showing up even when no one sees.
So today, let’s celebrate the tips of each other’s iceberg knowing full well there is so much more going on under the surface for each of us.
