"We are afraid to open up. We are scared to share. We don’t want anyone to know how we’re feeling inside . . . and so all of us feel more alone. What strength it takes to beat back this fear. What pain is caused by the inability or the unwillingness to do so. "When the student asks a question, what happens? **They learn something they didn’t know**. When the friend reveals a vulnerability to another, what happens? The **friendship gets stronger**. When the employee admits the workload is too much, what happens? A hire is made and the company gets more efficient. When somebody has the courage to speak about something shameful that was done to them? Society is propelled into action. Someone can help them stop it. "**Sometimes just the ask itself is a breakthrough**. The admission unlocks something within. Now we’re powerful enough to solve our problem." --- **Tags** -- [[quotes]], [[asking-questions]], [[courage]], [[crucial-conversations]], [[vulnerability]], [[anxiety]], [[trust]], **Source** -- [[202409180128 - B - Courage is Calling]]