Sharing our flaws is terrifying. It’s also one of the most liberating things we can do not just as a travel experience, as the weirdo people we all are. I feel like as a traveler I’ve got to put up a persona of being on this perfect journey to admit personal flaws. Yet, 98% of the thoughts and emotions I’m feeling are my flaws pouring out of every socket.
“When is it OK for me to be comfortable admitting my flaws?”
We’re all freaked out about sharing our flaws. Worried that friends, family, colleagues, and just about anyone else will think less of us. Maybe they won’t understand, maybe they won’t buy my thoughts, or maybe they won’t come to feel for my sufferings.
You’re the CEO of your life – do you admit personal flaws?
Geez, where do I begin? I’ve been human for nearly 3 decades and I have tons of flaws. Having got massive ADHD (I can’t even proofread this sentence without losing focus), terminal pain, crippling anxiety — and I can’t dance to save my life.
For a long time, I would have never even considered telling anyone that. But over time I’ve come to learn, especially among other Humans during travel experiences, that sharing our vulnerabilities has become one of the most honest forms of connection we can have, especially in an era of photoshopped social personas and manufactured egos.
Admit personal flaws builds trust because it’s one of the few things in life no one really lies about. It also invites others to engage in an honest place, which is very powerful.
How do I admit personal flaws without looking like a train wreck?
The key is to talk about how we manage our flaws.
A while back I experienced about “How I Harness my Insane Anxiety” which detailed exactly what my flaws looked like and how I’m working to judo move that shit into something I can turn into a superpower.
Not every flaw will become a superpower. Some, like depression, are just a giant challenge that doesn’t necessarily lead to a huge benefit. But if we’re demonstrating openness to own and admit personal flaws, even if it’s all cost and no benefit, it shows serious responsibility that people will look for and admire in a change you seek in life whether it’s via travel.
When should I probably keep my flaws to myself?
Just because being vulnerable is honest doesn’t mean it’s always appropriate. As life travelers, we also have a responsibility to take time to process the consequences of our flaws, and ideally make preparations to manage them, before simply puking them out on social media or at an eventful lunch.
We have to understand that our flaws are a life challenge like any other, and the folks around us are going to assume we’ve got a plan for it. Maybe we don’t. But it’s usually better to present those flaws (or for that matter almost any other challenge in our life) when we also have a cogent plan of attack.
It’s not our flaws that are the challenge — it’s how we handle that challenge that people care about known as self-acceptance.
Travel Psychologist shares road to self-discovery!
Self-acceptance isn’t going to happen overnight. It takes extensive work and considerable dedication. But learning how to love yourself right and treat yourself well, travel journeys can impact the way you admit personal flaws and the things you’re able to accomplish.
Here are eight ways to jumpstart your travel journey into self-acceptance:
1. Be kind to yourself.
It’s time to accept the fact that no one judges you more than you judge yourself. You can be your own worst enemy, but you need to get out of your way, and start developing patience. Be patient with yourself and accept your flaws.
2. Confront your fears.
Everybody has a history that includes some bad, devastating thing. All of us have baggage to go with that bad history. We’re human and bound to be hurt by something. But it’s the fear of the unknown that keeps us trapped. Being so afraid to experience something unfamiliar that we allow ourselves to become stuck in what we know.
It’s important to take baby steps to create change to admit personal flaws. Start by making a list about things that scare you. With one small thing, try to face it, and understand why it’s not so scary. Then move onto the next small thing, and so on.
3. Stay positive to admit personal flaws.
Surround yourself with goodness. Write yourself sweet notes. Hang up posters with positive affirmations. Download an app on your phone that will send you inspirational quotes on a daily basis. When you feel insecurity and doubt creeping into your thoughts, turn to one of your good things (you + yourself). Tell that little defeating voice inside your head to be quiet and that you refuse to go to that dark place!
4. Accept imperfection.
Let go of the ideal thing and what you think perfection looks like. Life is perfection in all its imperfections. Don’t let an obsession for perfection slow you down in accomplishing your goals. Good is good enough.
5. Don’t take it personally.
If something offends you, stop and ask yourself why you’re offended. Make a conscious effort to stop assuming you know what people mean. Don’t get defensive about something you’ve internalized. Chances are people don’t want to hurt you to begin with, but they might not know how to communicate effectively either. Things get lost in translation. If you’re not clear on the meaning of a specific comment, all you have to do is ask.
6. Forgive.
You can’t grow without forgiveness. But know that it’s a process, and it will always take time. Forgive others for things they didn’t mean to do and for things they didn’t know they did. Forgive yourself for mistakes you think you’ve made. And forgive yourself if things don’t change quickly enough.
7. Believe in yourself.
You are capable of accomplishing great things. Believe that you can do anything because you can. You are a strong and powerful being, and you can deal with any challenge that comes your way. Remember, you’ve already survived the worst thing you’ve experienced in your life.
8. Don’t give up no matter what!
When you fall, you need to get up and keep going. It’s in our failures, not our successes, that we learn the most about ourselves. Figure out what motivates you by celebrating something you are bad at. It’s in these intimate moments that life’s precious lessons are learned.
You’re worth it, and you deserve to be happy.
At Mandeha, We don’t just work alongside travel and hospitality companies; we weave ourselves into their very fabric, infusing every interaction with humanity. We understand the struggle for humans, travel, and the environment to coexist beautifully, but guess what? Humans are the lifeblood of this industry! Without understanding their desires, fears, and quirks, those fancy “gimmicks” fall flat.
We don’t enhance processes, we transform them. We bridge the gap between boardrooms and beating hearts, ensuring every experience speaks to the soul. Join us on this mission to make travel not just sustainable, but soul-stirringly unforgettable.
