“Being yourself, being who you are,
is a successful rebellion.” – Unknown
Brene Brown says,
“Vulnerability is the birthplace of everything we are hungry for.”
A rebel is the embodiment of this, taking a stand for what’s important, what they hunger for.
It’s contrary to the widely held view that a rebel fights against something.
Instead it’s the fight for something that fuels their fire.
With so much pressure to confirm, has your rebel become dormant?
Suppressed and shut down by the push to:
- go with the flow
- never rock the boat
- be seen and not heard
- keep your head down and stay safe
The primal fear of being kicked out of the tribe is powerful. We do so want to belong, but at what cost?
The cost is that you sell out on what you desire, what you most hunger for in life.
It’s a cost that eats away at your soul.
Do it long enough and you hardly notice. . .
Until one day someone speaks of rebellion in a new way and your ears perk up. Your heart flutters, the spark comes to life, rekindled as the old way is challenged.
That day has come.
I’m asking you to see yourself as a rebel, a *deva-lutionary willing to question the beliefs that have long kept you in the dark.
It’s time to wake up, to rebel, to become relentless in this pursuit.
You can do this.
* A deva-lutionary is committed to questioning the beliefs that have kept her in the dark. She changes the world by looking inward, igniting a revolution from the inside out. She rebels for that which is important to her, not for the sake of rebellion itself.
A deva-lutionary has the heart and courage to be herself without apology, a warrior willing to do what it takes to play in the light.
I love the idea that a rebel, a deva-lutionary fights for what she is FOR, not against. “Igniting a revolution from the inside out.” Yes! And I love that you brought in Brene Brown. I just saw her being interviewed by Oprah and loved what she had to say about vulnerability. I was so sorry when the show was over. Apparently Oprah was too because she’s brought her back for another interview next Sunday. But I digress — sort of.
You asked two great questions, Sandi — of course. It’s what you’re known for — powerful questions. Well, one of the things you’re known for. There are so many! 🙂 What will I take a stand for today? Myself and my special genius. How will I honor what I hunger for? By taking action.
The specifics of those answers? I just agreed to do a weekly radio show — my very own half-hour show to do with what I will. And the good news is there are already 50,000 listeners and counting. Woo hoo! At first I hesitated. It’s a big commitment. I’ve never done much radio. What if I screw it up? What if I run out of things to talk about? Then a little meditation and a little prayer work and the answer was, “What the fuck are you waiting for? Of course you’re going to do it! Say yes!” And so I did.
So much for being seen and not heard, eh?
Carol Hess Now you can be heard and not seen 😉
And yes, I love how Brene’s work on vulnerability opened something up for me around the Rebel, like another layer deeper. It’s so easy to see the obvious rebel we think of in society, but I’m talking about an inner rebellion that has to be expressed. We may not all claim the Rebel archetype, but I’m starting to think we all have a rebel inside. Maybe my work is to help unleash that!
Sandi Amorim Carol Hess I think your work may be exactly that, Sandi –unleashing the inner deva-lutionary.
One of the main philosophies I’m organizing Renegade Schoolhouse around is a commitment to focusing only on what is possible and within our power, i.e., a fight FOR. I see so many people fighting against the powers that be on issues in education, and, to me, it’s a wasted effort. Noise to distract everyone from stepping into their power and risking vulnerability.
When I was first conceiving this project, Bridget Pilloud told me that for 3 months I could only focus on what I was for in education rather than what I’m against. That 3 months has more than passed, and I’m still doing it. Why? It feels better in my body.
There will *always* be challenges and roadblocks, and we can kick at the mountain and scream for it to move, or we can be like water and carve our own path a little at a time. I choose water.
Ellen Berg This is great, Ellen — carving our own path or breaking our toes.
Ellen Berg I still do kick at the mountain occasionally, but am happy to say mostly I choose water too 😉
Perfect. Timing. xo
Hey Sandi,
love this post. Brene was rockin’ Oprah’s Super Soul Sunday. I’m sure you saw it. I’m standing strong in my truth today: I can move through any fear and come out better on the other side!
TheBoldLife That was one of the best SSS conversations ever! And you standing in your truth Tess is a gift to the world! Yay!!!
Today I am in surrender of my rebel side in order to strengthen my health so I can be part of the deva-lution. Its a radical concept for me to not go go go but to sit in stillness and heal. Really heal. But look out world…Agent Reneegade is on hiatus. Not gone.
I love the way you write. x
ReneeMagnusson Surrendering to what you need is a powerful action my friend. The deva-lution will be here waiting when you are healed. <3
Love this Sandi! We can get stuck in our rut and take the easy route so often. Less stress when we conform, but how much of ourselves do we lose. Being a rebel takes guts, but we are then really living and making change. I haven’t been the rebel lately, but I can get in that mode very easily. Thanks – inspiring post!
Cathy Taughinbaugh The more I’ve been sharing my ideas of the rebel the more it seems that we all have a rebel inside. Which is liberating because so often the rebel has been an outsider. But if we’re fighting FOR something rather than against, well that draws others to us. So much percolating in this conversation and I’m so glad it was of value to others.
Being a rebel often means choosing the harder way, but it always means choosing your own way. Loved the post!
anneso87 Seems so many of us have thought of the rebel as an outsider, but if the rebellion is from the inside out and we’re fighting FOR something meaningful, we can support each other! And that thought makes me very happy 🙂