Look at Me!

Most kids have no problem shining light on themselves.

I think my two favorite phrases were, “Mom, check this out!” or “Mom, look at me!”, followed by two pokes in her left arm.

Yet, something happens in puberty to change that paradigm when you move into adulthood.

You get the idea in your head that talking about yourself makes you rude, arrogant or boastful.

You may have even thought, “Who am I to toot my own horn? Shouldn’t others see all of the work I’m doing and want to promote me/hire me/fill in the blank….?!?”

I’ve even had clients tell me that they’re called to do “God’s work” and it wouldn’t be spiritual for them to brag.

That’s a load of baloney.

If you’ve been given specific gifts, talents, abilities – and you don’t use them or dim your light hoping that others will take notice, you’re hiding out.

And, I get this.

When I was a kid, I went to Catholic school where I was one of two (2) kids out of several 100 in 8 grades that were being raised in a single-parent household.

I wanted to do everything I could to “blend” in….to be like everyone else…..to be invisible.

Little did I know at the time that the world is made for those who stand out, not those who fit in.

It’s been a lesson I’ve fought hard to learn my whole life and now I’m on a mission to teach others how to position themselves in a way that blends humanity and experience with love so they get the BIG opportunities they deserve.

When you don’t claim your greatness and shine brightly, you give away your power.

You should stand proud just because of who you are.

Lord knows, I don’t always get it right…..but I do the best I can with where I’m at any given moment in time.

And, it doesn’t do any good for me to minimize who I am or what I know.

A few weeks ago, I spoke at an event where I was asked where my sense of confidence and poise comes from.

I was caught off guard – and smiling inside.

How I see myself is often not how others see me.

I don’t know how to be anyone other than myself.

By speaking of my own struggles and life story, I give others permission to do the same.

Confidence is simply believing in your abilities and worth and speaking your truth.

At that event, I had closed with a Nelson Mandela poem that you may have heard.

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small doesn’t serve the world.
There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine as children do.
As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.“

Putting all of yourself out there can be scary.

That’s why I was smiling when I was told I exuded confidence and poise after I just had poured my heart and soul out – and was scared of how I would be received.

Know that you are perfect in your imperfections.

And, it’s YOUR time.

Say “YES!” to the life you want and go out and design your destiny.
….because the world needs you and your brilliance more than you could ever know.

ACTION ITEM: The Upside Thought of the week is to check in to where you’re “secretly” hiding out.