Betsy Guerra shares how crying while delivering her daughter's eulogy felt like failure until she realized her vulnerability moved people and showed love. What she thought was weakness became her strength.
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Betsy Guerra
February 28, 2020
betterwithbetsy.com
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Today we're going to talk about why being vulnerable is not a weakness. I was a speaker for way longer than I was aware. One of the most powerful speaking engagements that I had was the day that I shared the eulogy of my daughter in her celebration of life. I remember wanting to inspire the community with faith and hope and wanting to honor my daughter and continue her legacy by sharing joy, the joy that she brought to our lives. So I prayed. I prayed so hard for God to give me the courage to stay strong and not cry throughout the entire eulogy. And I went up there to the podium and I was a hot mess. I cried. I was nervous, I was trembling. My voice cracked, and I felt I failed. I could not convey hope. I could not share the love and the joy that she brought to our lives. I failed because I was so vulnerable. I was everything but strong until I realized later on when people came to me, that it was my very vulnerability that touched their hearts. It was my tears, my pain, my rawness that made them feel that love that I had for her and the joy that she brought to my heart and my life. I honored my daughter the way I wanted, too. Vulnerability is the way that we touch through which we touch other human beings. It's not by being powerful and strong and unrelatable. Nobody can understand somebody that has everything figured out. I sure don't have everything figured out. So whenever you find yourself wanting to be perfect and strong and ideal for everybody else, think again. Because it is by being vulnerable that you can be the most powerful. So when I speak now, I don't worry about being all put together. I let my voice tremble and tears come down my cheeks. And I always get the same feedback from my audience. It was my pain that they were able to connect with, and it was the hope that I embodied that showed them that they, too, could overcome pain. If you enjoyed this video, please remember to like and subscribe and share with somebody that may need to hear these words. And if you want more resources and tools, go to my website, betterwithbetsy.com.
