Writing has become a regular self-empowering habit that helps me grow wiser and stronger. For hours, I sit in front of my laptop, constantly writing new posts, watching all kinds of inspirational videos, taking notes, and reading all sorts of materials to help navigate my healing and educate you on all things mental health.
I can't believe this all started with a nervous breakdown. Despite the inner hurting I was experiencing at the time, I had faith that one day things were going to get better for me and that I would finally get to live the peaceful, happy and balanced life I always dreamt of. I had no idea when or how that was going to happen, but I was beginning to feel it more and more within myself. And so, with every day that went by, I felt the urge to write more and more, to write about what I was going through, what I was feeling and the many ways one could bring happiness and peace back into one’s life. And the more I did that, the more I blogged, the better I started to feel and the less time I seemed to spend obsessing about other people's opinions and expectations for me.
I went from struggling with crippling anxiety, depression, and self-doubt among other things to creating a thriving a business out of helping others begin their healing and self-discovery journey through my writing, guided journal and wellness programs.
Sharing my story through my content has become a source of strength and confidence. If like me, you have decided to be vulnerable and share your story online for the first time, here are some beliefs to let go of so you too can created a community of like minded individuals through your vulnerability online.
EXCUSE 1: What will they think?
I wish I could tell you that every part of my life is a long list of not giving a damn what anyone else thinks, but that wouldn’t be truthful no matter how much I want to set an example for you now. Like many other women, I’m still in the process of overcoming a lifetime of people-pleasing.
However, the benefits of being vulnerable out way the fear of other people's opinions.
EXCUSE 2: It's been done before
The world needs your spark. The world needs your energy. The world needs you to show up for your life and take hold of your potential! We need your ideas. We need your love and care. We need your passion. We need your business models. We need to celebrate your successes. We need to watch you rise back up after your failures. We need to see your courage. We need to hear your what if. We need you to stop apologizing for being who you are and become who you were meant to be.
EXCUSE 3: I'm terrified of failure
You will definitely fail!
Let’s go ahead and start right there, because I know for many of you, the idea of falling short in front of even a small group of witnesses is terrifying. You will fail but then you will recover. Then fail again and recover again.
Sis, don’t be afraid of failure. Be afraid of never achieving anything at all because you were too afraid of what others might think of you for trying.
EXCUSE 4: I can't tell my story and still be a good wife/mother/daughter/employee/friend
I hate this excuse. Like, it actually pisses me off. Not because you might believe it, but because I believed it too. Do you know how many years I wasted trying to live my life to please everyone else? Do you know how long I beat myself up because I found no fulfillment in living up to my parent's expectations of me? After all, their happiness matters more than yours does, right? They matter more than you do, right? We are taught that the only way to be a good wife, mother, daughter, sister, or friend, is to show up for the other parties exactly how they want you to, when they want you to, right? No!
You get one chance at life—literally only one chance at this life— and you have no idea when your chance might be over. You cannot waste it living only for everyone else.
EXCUSE 5: I don't have their permission
Embracing the idea that you can want things for yourself even if nobody else understands the whys behind them is the most freeing and powerful feeling in the world. You want to be a full-time YouTuber? Wonderful! Open a photography studio where you specialize in portraits of cats? Great! You want to save up to go on a lavish vacation where you ask everyone to refer to you as Leona when your actual name is Christine? Fantastic!
Whatever the dream, it’s yours, not mine. You don’t have to give any justification, because as long you’re not asking anyone to give you approval, then you don’t need anyone to give you permission.
In fact, when you understand that you don’t have to justify your dreams to anyone else for any reason, that’s the day you truly begin to step into who you are meant to be.
Good luck! And if you do begin to share your story, be sure to tag me. I would love to come along your journey.
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