Peeling back the layers of yourself can
leave you feeling unprotected and emotionally
exposed before another person.

But vulnerability is necessary when building
any relationship.

Peeling away your layers allows people to
see who you really are. And there's freedom
in that. It's a freedom you should celebrate
and embrace, not shy away from.

Everywhere I go people tell me, "You're just
like you were on Oprah."

Whether intended or not, I embrace their
comments as wonderful compliments. Whenever
or wherever you see me, you're going to get
Lisa -- so much so it might surprise you.

I've learned that there's a power in
consistency. The more I peel back my layers
and give to you, the more of you that you
give to me.

It's amazing what can happen when
individuals have the courage to honestly
open up with one another. It can take your
relationships -- with your children, your
sisters or brothers, your mother or father,
or with the man or the woman in your life
-- to a much deeper level.

Try it with this little exercise.

Find one or two people in your life and
complete the following sentence to them
at least seven times:

"If you really knew me, you'd know that
I..."

Don't expect them to necessarily open up
to you in return. They may or they may not.
But I want you to really share yourself
with them.

For me it'd go something like this:

"If you really knew me, you'd know that
sometimes I get really scared or really
frustrated... If you really knew me, you'd
know that I love what I do every day... If
you really knew me, you'd know that I want
people to see the real me, but I'm often
afraid to show them."

Whatever it may be for you, peel back the
layers. Give others more of you so that
they can give you more of them. You may
be surprised how people respond --
pleasantly surprised!

If you're feeling a bit wary about trying
this with a friend practice it alone first.
Take a few minutes right now to complete
this exercise in front of a mirror and those
layers will fall away that much easier.



Lisa Nichols