You Matter!

The harsh reality is that we'll never fit in where we don't belong. I think most of us started out as a "crowd-pleaser." It is so much easier to follow along and tell people what they want to hear. So I thought...

I felt immense pressure to please everyone when I joined the military. I was SO scared to speak up, to be pointed out, or to do anything that would disappoint any of my supervisors...I jumped through every hoop and wore all the right masks, but it seemed all my efforts still weren't good enough. It's easy to just fit in and blend in and hide your superpowers. But the more I forced myself into "fitting in", the more I started losing myself. I got sick and tired of bending backward for everyone and putting myself last. I just wanted to feel like I belonged.

I realized I was conforming to everyone else's ideas and opinions of me and I was slowly silencing my own voice. I didn't like how it was making me feel and what I was becoming, so I started to change MY view of who I am. I began to share my opinions, my preferences, my ideas, and the deeper parts of me because I discovered that "I MATTERED."

It takes special courage to belong.

The special courage it takes to experience true belonging is about breaking down the walls, abandoning our ideological bunkers, and living from our wild hearts rather than our weary hurt. We’re going to need to intentionally be with people who are different from us. We’re going to have to sign up, join and take a seat at the table. We’re going to have to learn how to listen, have hard conversations, look for joy, share the pain and be more curious than defensive, all while seeking moments of togetherness.

It takes bravery to show up in your own skin.

#1 Work on Self Improvement

#2 Let Go of Perfectionism

#3 Do Things Even if You’re Unsure

#4 Fall in Love with Your Strengths

#5 Embrace Your Weaknesses

#6 Talk Nicely to Yourself

You deserve to be seen. You deserve to be heard.

One of the most powerful human needs is that of being seen and heard. We all want to feel valued, and important, and that we matter at various times. All parts of you deserve to be seen, heard, and embraced. Every part of you holds a gift that deserves healthy expression.

Don't Forget That You Matter!

Keep on SLAYin' until you can't SLAY no more!

#slaytosuccess #courage #authenticity #senseofbelonging #youmatter