Have you ever experienced this?
There you are… clinging to the rocks and treading water, choosing safety and anonymity over challenge, even though you know you are capable of swimming out into the deeper, colder, more challenging part of the pond …
So what is holding you back?
I had an experience today where I had to take a good hard look at what I was willing to do to move into a place of greater authenticity…
Authenticity in my message …
And in the delivery of my message …
Introducing my genuine self to people, and letting them see who I really am, and what I am capable of …
And the various hats I have worn in my professional life …
I wrote a blog post a week or so ago, and I spoke of being in a transition period …
Getting ready to sell my house and move into a new chapter in my life …
What I didn’t share is that I have been a builder for the past 25 years …
…long before I became involved in internet marketing …
and that this house is one that I have personally transformed over the past 5 1/2 years…
And it is BEAUTIFUL
But I was hesitant to share something that is important to me, that has been a sanctuary and saving grace for me after my divorce, because I didn’t want to be perceived as a show-off, a bragger…
I didn’t want to call attention to what I was capable of, for fear of making someone else uncomfortable …
Someone who hadn’t had the experience of living in such a beautiful place …
My dear friend and colleague Rose Mis pointed out to me the dishonesty of this …
And I was reminded of a quotation from Marianne Williamson that I posted not so long ago, a quotation that has been on my office wall for some time now …
Here is an excerpt …
“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, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you.”
Indeed.
We can coast, we can shrink, we can play it small and ignore that voice inside of us urging us on not only in pursuit of greatness, but to the importance of using our greatness to inspire others …
Or …
We can swim in the shallow end of the pond.
So today I encourage you to do what I did …
CLAIM IT.
Claim your god-given right to be magnificent, to express your unique talents in a way that satisfies your soul.
And as my friend Rose was there to challenge me today, I will challenge you …
To be your best self …
To swim in the deepest, coldest, most exhilarating part of the pond you can imagine.
And congratulate yourself for your courage!
{ 2 comments }
Holly … It is an honor to know you. You have an incredible message to share with people and such tremendous VALUE to GIVE to the world.
The stories that we tell ourselves are very interesting … YOU are the embodiment of courage … ease … grace and LOVE and I am forever grateful for knowing you !!
Love to you Hol !!! xoxox
Well put, Holly. It brings to mind 2 messages from the Million Mind March…that we shouldn't be ashamed of or embarrassed by being successful; and once we know how, we should make it our life's mission to pass on what we know to help others.
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