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A little Photoshopped image on the Internet gave me pause one day recently. It was of a kitten looking in the mirror which reflected an image of a full-grown lion. The first thought that came to mind was of course, the idea of courage: that we can make the brave choice to see ourselves in a stronger or more fearless light.
But in this image, I saw something more; I imagined that the kitten was preparing to show himself to the world. That kitten doesn't want to play small - he's ready to be out in front as the lion he is!
What about you? When you think about your own path in life, do you tend to show yourself and your strengths or are you more likely to hide in the background? Some among us are quieter types who may feel much more natural being low-key than "tooting our own horns". But the world needs to see and recognize all of us - even the quietly powerful ones!
One way we grow as people and and express our confidence is by allowing ourselves to shine and to be seen by others. If you were always taught to be modest and humble, perhaps this idea is a little hard for you. But, stretching in new directions is all about becoming the most robust and healthy version of yourself. Let's begin there. |
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What does it mean to put yourself out there?
There are different ways to putting ourselves and our strengths out there for others to see. And, if you think of this idea as "bragging" you are missing the point. Try shifting your thinking from "bragging" to "shining". We all deserve to shine in this world and for others to truly see us.
Furthermore, we have a lot to offer other people - when we step back in the shadows, we are actually shortchanging others who could get a lot of value from our wisdom, our vision, our experience, and our inspiration. Yes, it's true - we all have the power to inspire others! That is, if we allow it to happen. How do we do that? Here are a few questions to stimulate some ideas: - How do you want to show your personality and your strengths socially? Are you interested in the challenge of leadership roles in social clubs and organizations? Or do you want to shine in other ways? How do you show your peers who you are and who you are becoming?
- Have you noticed your patterns in the workplace? Do you share your ideas freely in meetings or in other work situations? Think about what strengths you bring to the job and how you do or don't share them with others. Do coworkers know who you really are and what you are about? Allow yourself to inspire!
- What do you do that expresses your specialness and uniqueness? Is it a creative pursuit that is yearning to be developed? Does it have to do with your relationships with other people? Is it your sharp analytical mind? Think about this and about how you want to let others truly see your uniqueness!
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