Walt and I were talking about the performance artist, Marina Abramovic, this morning. I don’t know if you’ve ever caught sight of this video clip of her sitting across the table from strangers at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. People stood in line for hours for the opportunity to spend one uninterrupted minute with Abramovic, one on one, and have her look deep into their eyes.

The most beautiful moment was captured when her former lover, Ulay, unexpectedly takes the seat across from her. Be. Still. My. Heart.

The nervous glances of those awaiting their turn revealed just how remarkable and disconcerting the experience was to behold. The look on Abramovic’s face and that of the person seated across from her mesmerize.

To see like that, to be seen like that, that’s connection, the very thing we all yearn for.

That sense of seeing and being seen is exactly what your readers and your audience members want from you. And that means dropping your armor, which is kind of hard.