Dear Amazing Women, it's your time to shine!

Dear Amazing Women

I wasn’t sure how to go about writing this article.  Do I write about it from my own perspective, focusing on my own experiences and struggles with giving myself permission shine: To be fabulous, talented and beautiful?  But in doing that I may bore you or come across as being a victim, of which I am not.  So, I just decided to share with you my thoughts and feelings on the subject of giving yourself permission to be the best possible version of yourself.  But, what I share is inspired by my own, personal experience and influenced by the fact that we have International Women's Day coming up on March 8th 2013.  

Photo courtest of F.C. Photography at Flickr

"You are looking fabulous!" "You are so talented." "You are beautiful."

Isn't it great when you receive such lovely compliments all about you?  In that moment the spotlight is on you, for all the right reasons, giving you the confidence to let the light shine on you.  Suddenly you have a spring in your step, you feel happier, energised and confident in yourself.  Wouldn't it be nice to feel like that all of the time, rather than waiting for others to give you permission to shine under the spotlight? 

Of course it would.  But sadly so many women (and men) do not give themselves permission to shine.  They may know that they are fabulous, talented and beautiful but sharing this with the world feels like an impossible task.  Why?  Well, it's not seen as the 'done thing' to do.  Other people may take offence at you putting forward the best possible version of you.  "Who do you think you are?" "You think you are so beautiful but you're not even all that" "She's talentless. My dog could sing better than her." 

Sadly there are people who take offence at you being the best possible version of you. Not because you are not fabulous, talented and beautiful.  But because they do not feel that they are fabulous, talented or beautiful.  Therefore, they seem to put you down in the hope that you will stop shining your light, so that you don't become the best possible version of you. 

Some of you may take this as inspiration to shine brighter, therefore inspiring those watching by the sidelines to do the same. Others of you may choose to hide your light or turn it out completely. The fear of retribution (verbal put downs, abuse, being out-casted, laughed out) becomes stronger than your natural desire to share the real you with those that you meet.  But whose fear are you carrying? Is it yours or that of the people who object to you shining your light? 

In truth we were all made to shine.  Each and every one of us was made to be beautiful, amazing, talented...... and so the list goes on.  As children we embrace all of the great things about ourselves: The little girl who likes to play dress up and sings in her bedroom because one day she will be a star.  That little princess who loses herself in an adventure story, aspiring to one day write her own adventure tale.  Neither of these little women sought permission to be themselves.  Nor did they feel embarrassed or ashamed about the things they did, thought and said.  They are happy to just be themselves, shining their light of authenticity for everyone to see. Surely this is how we should all be. 

You don't need to wait for somebody to give you the permission to shine your light of fabulosity, amazing-ness, beauty, talent.....  You are the only person who gives you permission to shine.  And in the event that someone should object to you shining your light of authenticity know that this is there issue not yours.   It is not for you to carry their fear, shame or embarrassment.  Your role is to keep shining your light and being the best possible version of you.  In doing so you will grow, attracting people and opportunities that nurture and challenge you in your journey to become the woman that you were created to be.  For every person that you offend there will many more people that you inspire to shine their light of authenticity. 

My message to you is simple: shine your light of authenticity. Tell yourself: "I am fabulous" "I am talented" "I am beautiful": Just be the best possible version of you. For years of playing down my own intelligence, fabulosity and beauty in the presence of others, I know that it only sort to make me feel insecure, indecisive and in a whirl of aiming too low.  In giving myself permission to shine as the real me I support other women to do the same.  So in preparation for International Women’s Day we should shine our light of authenticity and be the best possible version of ourselves. In fact don’t wait until then, just do it right now!  In this moment give yourself permission to shine and to be the best possible version of YOU!

With lots of love, light & sparkles

Chanel -xxx-

If you would like to share your stories of times when shining your light inspired another person then please do so in the comment box below or send me a private message by clicking here.  Equally, if you would like guidance in this area then I am more than happy to share with you how I gave myself permission to shine and be the best possible version of me.  Remember that I am not rich, famous or any better than anyone else so if I can do it, YOU can too.  Thank you for your time and I look forward to connecting with you.  

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