Recently, I reached out to Beth, a friend of mine from my days in the vintage resale community. I had just picked up a cuuuuute ’60s-’70s coat from the thrift store, and thought she might be able to provide more insight into it.
As the conversation evolved, we talked about how we are both stepping out of our comfort zones in many ways—that we’ve been feeling this urge to transform and begin again refreshed.
In my Part 1 blog post, I had mentioned noticing that some of my friends were making changes to their businesses. Beth is one of them; she now focuses on vintage and luxury goods, which she couldn’t have predicted even a year ago. She also changed the name of her brand to BB Luxury & Vintage (formerly Promised Land Vintage) and its logo (right). By relaunching her business, Beth chose to share her authentic self with the world.
As for me, I was ready to show up as my authentic self through writing consistently. In the past, I would let self-doubt and imposter syndrome run rampant in my head. I’d talk myself out of writing before I even opened my laptop.
If I didn’t believe in myself, then who would or should listen to anything I had to say?
Many times, I would just not write. Or I would write, and not let anyone see it, ultimately abandoning the idea I had altogether.
After spending years doubting myself, I finally realized that I wasn’t doing anyone any favors by dimming my light. I was quieting my own voice out of fear, and then denying others the opportunity to hear something that could potentially help them out.
If I wanted to inspire others to live authentically, then it was time for me to show up authentically.
But why now? Why do we feel that it’s our time to be seen?
Beth and I asked each other the same questions, and she said:
I feel like humanity is pushing forward all at once in a massive evolution. Like we have been held back for so long with COVID, everything is overflowing all at once.
I agreed 💯💯💯 that all of humanity is going through a big transformation right now. It’s like the pandemic was a reset for many of us. There was a lot of relearning how to live and discovering what really matters. Big changes needed to be made and nothing could ever be the same.
It seems like many people have finally come out of hiding, shaken off all of the fears that kept them small, and are ready to emerge from the fiery ashes like the Phoenixes that they are.
Beth was ready to be seen as her true self, even if that meant losing people from her previous community. Whenever you decide to do something big, you risk losing people.
And this is okay! Everyone is on their own journey, and those who fall away are meant to go in a different direction (maybe just for a time… maybe forever).
You can’t change anyone, or make them react or behave in a certain way.
BUT by shining your light, you may be lighting the path for others. You can INSPIRE others to speak their truth and share their authentic selves with the world.
I recently listened to a morning meditation that included this quote:
“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? … And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
Marianne Williamson
When I heard these words from a deep state of relaxation, I felt seen. They spoke to me so deeply that I even shed tears, releasing a huge weight that I didn’t realize had been holding me down.
Words have power. Showing up is powerful. Being seen in your raw (sometimes ugly) truth can make it easier for others to stand in their power and share their raw (sometimes ugly) truth.
So, take this as a sign. It’s time for you to be seen.
Shed the weight of fear and judgment, and be YOU AF.
<3 Laura
P.S. Just know that you are always loved and supported. You’ve got an invisible team rooting for you. Trust in them. They’ve got your back.
