Do you allow yourself to ‘shine your light’, and if so, how do you express your unique qualities and positivity in your daily life?
By expressing and sharing your talents and gifts, you will experience well-being…
- Spread kindness, love, and positive energy – you contribute positively to another’s life.
- You may just be the inspiration another needs to shine their light.
- Your courage can encourage others to be more authentic and positive themselves.
- Whether in a professional or personal context, your actions and attitudes can guide and uplift others.
- You are a beacon of hope and resilience.
- You will feel more inspired, invigorated, and simply fulfilled with life.
- Life will flow more effortlessly.
We all come into this world with gifts and talents that are meant to be nurtured and shared in this lifetime. However, it takes a brave soul to choose to step out of one’s comfort zone and take the required steps to become their best self; to let themselves share their unique abilities with others.
Reasons why people might hesitate to let their light shine:
1.Fear of Judgment: Many people are afraid of being judged or criticized by others. This fear can prevent them from expressing their true selves. For example, an artist might hesitate to share their work out of fear that it will not be well-received. The pressure to conform to societal norms and expectations can stifle individuality and prevent people from expressing their unique traits. Personally, I have seen many women reluctant to share their gifts because they worry these are not valued enough by their social circles – that they would be considered not ambitious enough.
2. Self-Doubt and Low Self-Esteem: Individuals may struggle with internal self-criticism, feeling that they are not good enough or capable of success. This lack of self-belief can prevent them from pursuing opportunities or showcasing their talents. (Success)
3.Past Experiences: Negative past experiences, such as failure or rejection, can discourage people from trying to shine again. Pursuing our dreams can bring up old wounds.
4.Social Pressure: The pressure to conform to societal norms and expectations can stifle individuality and prevent people from expressing their unique traits.
5.Perfectionism: The desire to be perfect can paralyze people, making them reluctant to take risks or show their imperfect, authentic selves. Personally, I have started over from scratch many times, often feeling that I needed to have it all figured out before beginning to share. All that did was put undue pressure on myself and lead to procrastination.
6.Comparison to Others: Constantly comparing oneself to others can lead to feelings of inadequacy, making it difficult to recognize and celebrate one’s own light.
7.Cultural or Environmental Factors: Some cultures or environments may not encourage self-expression, leading individuals to suppress their true selves.
8.Lack of Support: Without a supportive network, people may find it hard to shine, fearing they will be misunderstood or unsupported.
9. Anxiety and Fear of Change: Change can induce significant anxiety. The process of breaking away from established defenses and routines to pursue one’s true potential can be overwhelming. This anxiety can lead people to retreat back into their old, safer patterns of behavior. (Psychology Today)
10.Internalized Beliefs: Negative beliefs about oneself, often internalized from a young age, can prevent people from believing in their own light and worth. It is important to know that such beliefs can be transformed into more empowering thoughts once we look at their source.
A hard truth… Often, when one is taking the steps towards expressing one’s potential and hence leading a more fulfilled life, those around them don’t react positively. It is not uncommon. When people see a loved one change, they fear they may be required to change as well. They may also feel there will be a loss of sorts if the other is moving forward in new ways.
Key element: It’s important to know that if you’re shining your light some will be supportive and some won’t. Yet, if you don’t shine your light, some will be supportive and some won’t. Either way, someone will be unhappy.
Therefore, the sooner we learn, and accept that we cannot please everyone, the sooner we free ourselves to live our true potential and our purpose. The sooner any related overthinking, worries, and stress can be released, and we can regain that lost energy.
We become free to let go of the people-pleasing, stop being the chameleon, and eradicate the multiple contortions we take on to be accepted and feel like we belong. Those afore-mentioned behaviors may have been needed as a self-protective mechanism when younger, yet with time they no longer serve us; they actually hinder us.
Gaining clarity and identifying what is blocking you specifically from being your best self is the first step towards healing it. There are many ways to connect to a supportive environment that encourages and allows you to embrace and express your true self – keep looking, and you will find it.
Taking the first step towards expressing your potential, no matter how small, can begin to build the confidence needed to shine your light.
What is the next baby step you will take towards sharing your unique abilities? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below!
Sources:
- Success – Make Your Success About Shining Your Light
- Psychology Today – 5 Reasons We Don’t Let Ourselves Be Happy
If you are experiencing one of the above fears, remember the next right step for you lies within you, and I’m here to help you uncover it. Let’s connect.
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Lynette guides and supports smart hardworking women who, despite their efforts, feel trapped and unfulfilled, always striving but never quite achieving their desired changes. Her approach blends both analytical/logical (left brain) and creative/intuitive (right brain) perspectives and processes, allowing for tangible concrete results.
Drawing from over 16 years of dedicated spiritual exploration; learning from diverse programs, and achieving international accreditation in Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) – Lynette offers a practical framework for empowerment. Visit https://transformationstartswithin.com/acknowledgements-references/ to learn more within Acknowledgements and References.