Please Don't DIAGNOSE Me...

The other day I gave a talk at a local woman’s lunch. I wasn’t talking about anything extremely emotional, but as often happens when I get animated and passionate about a topic, my eyes got watery. I was crying, while also not crying.

All my life I have been told that I am “too sensitive,” that “leaders don’t cry”, that I need to get my crying “under-control”, etc.

And frankly, I get pretty sick of it.

The other day was no different.

After I finished my talk, I approached a woman whom I barely know and she said, “There is a hidden WOE in you. I could see it.”

My response was, “Nope. No WOE. It happens when I am touched or passionate about a topic.I care about people and when I think about how they must feel, I get emotional too.”

Breast cancer commercials make me cry.
Seeing other people cry makes me cry.
Videos of people-overcoming challenges make me cry.

And the other day, talking about mentoring and the power of partnerships made me cry.

No matter how much I force it down, or try to practice it away, it comes up anyway. One chinese medicine doctor told me that I cry because I have so much fire and passion in my body, that it’s easiest release is through my eyes.

I like that line of thinking.

Or it could be that I cry--plain and simple.

Some would say I cry easily.
Some would say I cry “over nothing.”
Some would say I cry “inappropriately.”
Some would say I cry  “because I have a hidden WOE.”

But you know what? I don’t really need nor want their judgments and diagnoses.

I have a feeling that the people in your life probably don’t want yours either.

Accepting my tears,
Theresa

​P.S. Have you grabbed a copy of YOUR NO-NONSENSE GUIDE TO BEING HEARD yet? If not, check it out. Inside are 12 strategies for how to use your voice for maximum influence (diagnosing not included.) 

Courage. Compassion. Connection.