Brene Brown and The Fixx

The first category I will create in this blog is juxtaposition.  I really enjoy putting two disparate ideas together to create something new.  

Brene Brown is a self-described storytelling researcher.  Specifically, she is a sociologist interested in our human emotions–the really messy ones too–like shame, vulnerability, fear, courage, connection, worthiness, belonging, compassion.    This is a beautiful talk to listen to, but the added beauty of her presentation is how she makes these complex emotions simple to understand and to relate.  Her studies and her thesis is that the willingness to be vulnerable is the key to being confident, comfortable and connected.  My interpretation is that we need to grasp, to accept and honor our weaknesses, our vulnerabilities, our fear that others might find out.

The Fixx, a London band with keyboards, a heavy beat and many songs you probably do not recognize.  They still release albums, but to me they will always be an 80’s band.  Twenty five years ago a friend of mine gave me the lyrics to a Fixx song called, Treasure It.  These lyrics were perfect for the teenage me as I learned to deal with the stresses of life that prepared me for the stresses of life today. Really, we are not that much less dramatic.  My favorite verse–if you have not already gone to look for yourself–

“We’ll have our turn to use what we’ve learned
And stand up into the light of our lives
So please yourself, feed yourself
Take a seat for this coming attraction
When you’re feeling insecure do you treasure it
You should treasure it
Feel the pull of nature’s course and treasure it
Treasure it
Switch back, turn back”

“Take a seat for this coming attraction” suggests the power of stepping out of our own stuff and reflecting on what we are feeling.  I often call this sitting on the balcony and taking account of our actions and thoughts during an interaction or conversation.  As we mature, we develop the ability to put words to those emotions and to handle them in a constructive manner. The second line in this verse connected me to Brene Brown: “When you are feeling insecure do you treasure it [?] You should treasure it.”  Rather than numbing the feeling of vulnerability, avoiding it and hiding it, we should accept it, grasp it, honor it.  Why? The treasure of vulnerability is a greater willingness to accept who we are, which leads to greater confidence, comfort and connection.  

If you couldn’t find the lyrics on-line, I have them on a small notepad pinned to my bulletin board.