Five questions with Ronna Detrick: What it means to tell the truth

I've got a new series of great interviews lined up with people who have a strong sense of purpose and who, in my humble opinion, have found authentic and mindful ways to be of service in the world. Each interview is made up of only five question.

First up is Ronna Detrick, who writes about spirituality, feminism and truth at her blog RENEGADEconversations. As you might imagine, she and I have plenty to talk about.

Welcome, Ronna Detrick!

Ronna, what is it that breaks your heart? What fills you with hope/joy?

My heart is broken when I see others, women particularly, live smaller, silenced lives. I’ve lived in those places – and still do at times – and so know both how painful this can be. It’s incredibly difficult to make the kinds of changes necessary to allow anything else. And it’s risky, dangerous, and filled with all kinds of ramifications. Still, to not choose to walk these paths just makes me sad. I want so much more for myself and for others.

Hope and joy are all over the place when the “smaller and silenced lives” become large and loud! I don’t know of anything more hope/joy-filled than when women make those dangerous, risky, ramification-filled moves and become their powerful, wildly beautiful, passionate, amazing selves.

What are you doing about it?

I have the privilege of having RENEGADEconversations with women all the time. In my writing and speaking I am constantly talking about what it means to tell the truth. And in my mentoring/spiritual direction, I am working with individuals in the realms of faith and feminism – inviting them to places of exploration, discovery, and strength as they unravel their own story and those they’ve heard/learned in ways that create that power, beauty, passion, and amazing-ness!

How did you get started doing this?

I was laid off from my job almost a year ago. Though I was super-disappointed and scared when that happened, it was also the impetus that compelled me toward doing the very thing I now talk about all the time: living out loud, acknowledging desire, and telling my truth. I started RENEGADEconversations in order to have incredible, transformative conversations with amazing people. It’s shifted and morphed in these past months and it’s become this powerful embodiment of me. I love that: being in a space that gives me the privilege of being authentic. It’s scary, being an entrepreneur, but I cannot imagine doing anything else!

What do you do to take care of yourself?

Besides enjoy good red wine? Well, I have gotten better about letting myself off the hook for things that feel like “shoulds” but really aren’t the best use of my time or energy. I say “no” more often. And I say “yes” to things that feed my soul: time with friends, enjoying my daughters, reading great books, watching movies, and yes, drinking red wine.

Do you have any advice for people who are trying to match their career with their passions?

When you live from that know-that-I-know-that-I-know place, everything else makes more sense. I think we really do know what we most love, what we most hope for, what brings us the most joy, and what breaks our heart. When we are willing to answer those questions truthfully (and live with the cost associate with such), it leads us into places we may not have ever dared gone, but once there, we can never leave. Admittedly, far easier said than done.

My teleseminar, Telling the Truth in Extravagant Ways, gets at this. I’d love to have you join me, Tuesday, April 13, at 6:00 (PDT). It’s totally free. Sign up by clicking on the link above. And of course, I’d love to have more RENEGADEconversatons with you!

Comments

[leonie]

just what i needed right now

thank-you

[Lindsey]

Lovely - I love reading Ronna here, one of my favorite voices in a space that I've just found and like so much.
Thank you both.

[Helen]

Wonderful!
I'm needing a lot of inspiration and support in my life at the moment, so all these little snipets and leads to follow are priceless.
Thank you :)

[Alexis Grant]

I like this idea -- another great way to inspire us. Great interview, and looking forward to the next one!