The Invitation in the Fall
“If you’re brave enough, often enough, you will fall.” These words by Brené Brown ring like a bell in my heart. I love them. They remind me that the stumbles, the slips, and the ungraceful tumbles I’ve taken are not signs of weakness, but quiet evidence of courage. Sometimes my falls were pure clumsiness, and sometimes they were simply the result of stepping into the wild unknown – where balance had yet to be found.
The Sacred Partnership of Courage and Falling
Bravery and falling are unlikely companions, yet inseparable. Every leap beyond the edges of what feels safe carries within it the possibility of a wobble, a misstep, or even a crash landing. But isn’t that what makes the leap sacred? To be brave is to open ourselves to the full spectrum of outcomes—to triumphs and tender tumbles alike. Without the willingness to fall, we would never leave the soft cushions of comfort, never discover the vastness that waits beyond.
Seeing Others Stretch Their Wings
One of my greatest joys is watching someone lean into their edges, stretching beyond what they once thought possible. There is a kind of shimmering magic when a person dares to step into unfamiliar territory. Sometimes they soar, and sometimes they falter – but always, always, I see the quiet glow of bravery alive in them. And when I witness another’s courage, it reminds me of my own, hidden in the folds of my “failures.”
Reframing the Word “Fall”
What if “falling” isn’t failure at all, but a moment of becoming?
Falling invites humility, tenderness, and a return to earth. It teaches us the strength of standing up again and the wisdom of softening into imperfection. It reminds us that life isn’t a straight line of upward victories – it’s a dance, with sways, dips, pauses, and yes… little tumbles along the way. When I look back at my own falls, I see the footprints of bravery scattered throughout them.
Remembering Your Own Brave Falls
Take a breath and think of a time you “fell.” Maybe it was a risk in love, a leap in work, a step into unfamiliar terrain. At the time, it may have felt messy or painful. But can you also recognize the courage that carried you there? Can you honor the part of yourself that was brave enough to try, even knowing the possibility of falling was real?
Love Notes to Our Brave Selves
Perhaps the falls are not scars to cover but love notes to ourselves. Each one whispers: You dared. You tried. You reached for more. And maybe that’s where the deepest satisfaction lives – not in whether we stayed perfectly balanced, but in knowing we had the heart to step forward at all.
Closing the Circle
So if you find yourself face-down in the dirt, cheeks flushed with the sting of a stumble – pause. Smile, if you can. Place a hand over your brave, beating heart. And remember: falling is not proof of failure. It’s evidence that you are alive, courageous, and willing to dance at the edge of your becoming.
With so so much love and appreciation,
Meghan