Cringe is just caring

Feeling exposed means you're connected

Dear kind mover,

Showing up, doing things, taking a stand — even when you have every reason to — can feel so tenderly cringe:

“Wow I can’t believe I did that”

“Was it too much?”

“They must think I’m trying sooo hard”

“Should I just disappear now?”

I recently volunteered for a stretch opportunity that was a good fit. Sounds great, I’d love to do it. But as those words left me, I suddenly like felt a single sashimi on a plate: overly eager, exposed.

It’s easy to put a label (”cringe”) on any moment big or small, and make it one that you avoid at all costs in the future. But when you do, what happens is that you not only shrink back from the uncomfortable feeling.. you also pull away from the many worthwhile efforts that come with it.

And before you know it, there is no room for you to breathe, let alone move.

But what if you’re not “cringe” — this is just you being someone who cares?

What if this is you showing up and being deeply connected to what you’re doing? What if this is you learning what works and what you might do next time? And.. what if you are more than this feeling right now that makes you want to close the shutters forever? What if there are many moments ahead that will feel completely different, where you will move more assuredly from the wisdom gained here?

How would you hold it all then?

Perhaps the “cringe” is inevitable and yet it is not the end. It can be an opening, an expression of who you are being on this journey. No need to make it more, or less, than what it is. Keep moving kindly towards what matters to you.

Prompt

• Who am I beyond the cringe? What is the underlying expression?

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Let’s keep moving kindly,

Karm

By the way! Some fun new formats may be coming for future newsletters.