“And they were both naked, the man and his wife,…. they were as they were created, having no clothes on them, and standing in need of none to conceal any parts of their bodies from the sight of others. And they were not ashamed; having nothing on them that caused shame; nothing sinful, defective, scandalous or blameworthy; no sin in their nature, no guilt on their consciences, or wickedness in their hands or actions; and particularly they were not ashamed of their being naked, no more than children are to see each other naked, or we are to behold them.” Genesis 2:25
As children, we share ourselves un-apologetically, openly, freely and vulnerably. When we are hurt or sad, we don’t think twice before sharing honestly what we are feeling, we know no other way, then to cry, scream or yell in pain, seeking to be consoled and comforted by a caregiver. In contrast, if we are filled with joy, we would skip, squeal with laughter, jump and laugh from our bellies. Somewhere along the way we learn to hold it in, to conceal our honest thoughts and feelings, to hold back the tears, and remain composed at all times, in fear of the judgement from others.
But I want things to be different, I want more Naked and Unashamed conversation, more openness, raw sharing, and authenticity. We can choose to share and embrace our struggles and to help grow our communities to become a more accepting, supportive and overall more authentic, connected and open community of concern. Being vulnerable and sharing my story openly is one of the ways that I have worked to reach out to others, break down stigma and help others know that they are not alone.
For it is only through our personal experience, through exploring our own wounds, that we can draw true understanding, offer insight, hope and real compassion for each other.
Hope that this blog brings you comfort, courage and inspiration,
With love,
_________________________________________________________________________
Christina Chen is a Clinical Counsellor who has worked for several years of alongside youth and families in both conventional and innovative settings. Her ability to help others comes from her deep conviction and commitment to drawing on her own story and experiences in bringing vulnerability into her practice.
Christina aims to weave together her lived experience with mental illness and the mental health system as a “patient” and as a practitioner. She is hopeful that her concepts can spur awareness, discussion and ultimately change in how we treat, care for and even approach each other.