Sometimes hesitantly, but mostly with a willing, courageous heart, I have as an empowerment coach become an expert at being me. Because my own learning experiences have created a huge window to help many people, I find it only right to start sharing. I guarantee that many people are still not good at being themselves or at least they don’t feel comfortable fully letting their true selves out. Why? Because from the very beginning of our lives, most of us are taught, even before we learn how to speak, that it is not okay to be ourselves. Maybe we are considered ‘too’ emotional or expressive as children. Maybe we are constantly being ridiculed and corrected by our mannerisms, interests, or how we look. Maybe we’re ‘too much’ for the people around us, so we’re told to be quiet. This being said, in the simple act of being innocently ourselves we quickly learn that keeping it in the inside keeps us safer. Unfortunately, while this usually avoids conflict, it dampens our light, our true spirit and will continue to. Before we know it, the person that the world sees on the outside becomes dramatically different from the one on the inside.
Being ourselves requires the willingness, honesty and courage to show up without apology. Many artists, whether they are musicians, painters, chefs or poets are great teachers for us to learn from on this subject. I am in awe of the artist Pink because she stretches herself, doesn’t apologize and is willing to grow in the public eye for all of us to witness. She shows up to life in the way that honors her. The people that have the courage to move this way are often the ones that shine and live the most joyous, authentic lives. Question for thought: What’s stopping you from being you without apology? How willing are you to be yourself aside from any thought of how you should be? The challenge is yours to take. You won’t be sorry. Take inventory of where you are still holding back and commit to exploring new things. Commit to being more unapologetically yourself. Take leaps and steps and surround yourself by people that support you and love you for who you are. Believe me, it’s worth every bit of it and suddenly you’ll find your life filled with the richest colors.
