Courage to Confess Shortcomings

I received an email that piqued my interest. I decided to format it as a "Courage Advice Column" for this blog posting.

Dear Sandra, The Courage Expert:
There are many times I find myself responding to a discussion topic as if I know something about it when in fact, I don’t. I feel if I reveal my lack of knowledgeable I will be perceived as unintelligent (silly, I know). Other times, I find myself innocently covering up or glossing over an incident instead of confessing. What’s the best plan of action to apply courage?

Dear “The Courage to Confess”:
How many of you who read my courage blog post confess your shortcomings, mishaps or missteps? By confessing, I don’t mean your confessing your “sins.” For example, if I am unknowledgeable about a topic (and there are many) or if I have not formulated an opinion about a topic, I respond with, “I confess I am not qualified to respond on that topic.” To confess is itself a mark of courage (based on the original definition of the word, meaning “heart and spirit”) and maturity. A few years ago (I confess with embarrassment and the courage to be vulnerability) I attended my niece's wedding in California. I realized at the wedding that I had forgotten she was my God-child. I confess to you that I didn’t have the courage at the time to openly confess it!

A popular radio personality named “Sly” confessed to his community that he was addicted to painkillers and alcohol. He was not in trouble with the law, so he could have kept his predicament a secret. He did it because he hoped his openness would help others confront their addictions. Putting the truth on the table inoculates you before someone exposes the situation, and it’s not a form of “telling before someone else tells on you;” it’s divesting of constraints that hold the spirit down. I find that a rare form of courage. This popular radio host drew from his reservoir of courage and chose an action that validated his internal character.

Join me next Monday to learn more about why confessing is good for the spirit. I would love for you to share your courage comments by posting them below.

Sandra Ford Walston is known as The Courage Expert and innovator of StuckThinking™. She is an organizational effectiveness consultant, speaker, internationally published author of bestseller COURAGE, trainer and courage coach. She is certified in the Enneagram and MBTI®. Please visit www.sandrawalston.com.