Never hide.
– Rayban
One of the most memorable advertising campaigns I have ever worked on when I was still doing marketing and advertising for a living.
Who would have known years later, the said tagline will still ring true?
If you have been following me on social media or watching me go on-air for quite sometime now, you know how much I advocate for authenticity. I have always believed that it has always been one of my superpowers (alongside vulnerability, integrity and credibility) that allowed me to take up space in the coaching industry.
Part of being authentic is being able to love yourself whole and embrace yourself fully, flaws included. It’s all about recognizing who and what you are fully, and being comfortable with it.
It takes a whole lot of self-awareness, self-love and mental toughness and emotional mastery to be able to do that. Quite a lot of work, but definitely worth it.
Imagine: living a life that allows you to just let yourself be, without fear of judgments nor worries about being caught off guard. I know. Very happy and stress-free.
The freedom that goes with being able to embrace yourself as you are fully can do wonders to your overall wellness and wellbeing, as it allows you to navigate through life in your own terms, take up space as you are, at your own pace while continuously working on yourself and your growth.
Enjoying that freedom requires you though to come into terms with things, people, and situations that make you cringe and want to hide in the process. Consider those as your own deep, dark secrets that you hold on to just to look good or be worthy in the eyes of others.
Mind you though: that’s your ego talking. Using a megaphone to be precise. Haha!
Kidding aside, setting yourself free from the clutches of those seemingly uncomfortable details that surround your identity can help you journey towards your own #bestmeever .
I always liked this quote: ” If you were born poor, that’s not your fault. If you remain poor all through out your life, that’s your choice.” Can’t agree more. While you might not have the most amazing starting point, know that by taking pride on your humble beginnings, you get to inspire others to do the same and embark on that powerful journey to change their lives. Your past shouldn’t define you. How you take responsibility for it and use it as a tool to initiate the changes you want in your life, does.
2. Your failures and mistakes
In case you’ve forgotten: you are only human. So it’s ok to commit mistakes and fail. It means that you are trying. What is not ok is when you let those shortcomings overwhelm you and negate your perception towards yourself. Be proud of your battle scars and learn from them. Because for all you know, some day, your journey will be someone else’s survival guide. And that makes everything worth it.
3. Your present struggles
Struggling as of the moment does not make you less worthy, less respectable or less capable of having the life you’ve always wanted for yourself. Be brave enough to show your struggles and own them. Having things easy may be a good start for some; having to endure difficult times and allowing yourself to rise above them makes you beyond inspiring as you strive to do (and be ) better. It’ll all be worth it in the end.
4. Your achievements
If you worked hard for it, don’t be afraid to flaunt it. Never give in to the notion that when you post about your success, it’s already bragging. Because truth be told, it’s not. Say goodbye to success shaming. Remember, for as long as your intentions are clear and pure, you have every right to celebrate yourself and your win. How others see that is based on their own pains and projections; how you see it is based on your worth. And yes, you are very much deserving to acknowledge yourself and your wins.
5. Your Self
There you go. Bullseye! Haha! So when was the last time you felt really proud of yourself? Have you acknowledged how far you’ve gone and what you’ve become in the process? You don’t have to wait until you reach your biggest goals to be able to celebrate yourself and your growth. Know that as you are, you are amazing so give yourself more credit. You deserve to take centerstage, regardless of your race, gender, status, position, health, looks or whatever other aspects that make you feel less of a person. They don’t matter. You do.
I hope this blog post of mine allows you to toughen up and be brave enough to just let yourself be.
Time to live loud and proud, Unicorn.
Own your story.
