These are the easy questions. I often quickly answer both by saying that the space is symbolic and physical. It is one where everyone feels welcomed and able to explore their lived experience stories as if they were always part of this accepting and supportive community, whether we assemble online or in person.
A few days ago, though, when a friend asked why the space was safe and not brave, I took a long pause before answering. ‘Brave space’ refers to spaces designed to cultivate growth, often around challenging topics. In contrast, ‘safe space’ is typically used to refer to areas that are meant to be free from threatening or conflictual conversations and ideas. I thought hard about this for a while.
Sometime later, I answered: “One is just a doorway to the other. To get to safety, one must also be brave; to be brave, one must know that safety exists in some form.”
This isn’t the kind of bravado that says we can do and be everything or hold it all together when we feel we are being marginalized or attacked in some way, and it isn’t the safe that says we should never be pushed out of our comfort zones.
No. The brave I am talking about is taking the first step. It is about walking through a doorway, committing to seeing a better outcome for oneself and others, and being willing to look at the range of conflicts that already exist within ourselves. It is being brave enough to sit with ourselves and others to find the safety we all crave. And the safe I am referring to is the feeling of being supported, understood, stood with, seen, and heard. It is precisely what happens when we take brave steps with the right community by our side.
And we will be proving that on Sunday, May 8, when we host our first in-person workshop!
The Calm Community Circle is a 90-minute workshop that helps bring calm and purpose to your experience. We’re organizing this session for moms and the people we love, like moms, so caregivers of all kinds can take gentle yet meaningful safe+brave steps to ensure their mental health and wellness. Participants in this Calm Community Circle will explore ways to build their self-care and stress management skills, enhance their communication skills, and increase their focus and awareness.
Learn more about the Calm Community Circle and the thoughtful gift packages we have created to celebrate our first in-person event. Of course, if you have any questions or want to learn more about offerings from the Untold Stories Studio, feel free to email me or start a quick chat with me via our social pages.
Also, check out our Instagram page for more pictures of our developing studio space.
I look forward to seeing you soon in the Studio!
