It's Time to Shine
It’s time to shine!
We, as women, must enact our inner strength instead of sitting on the sidelines and letting fear destroy our purpose. All it takes is one step with the confidence and knowledge that you have just as much a right to fulfill your dream as anyone else. Shift your thinking from “I’m ready to do that” to “I can do that.”
How many of you have passed up opportunities because you felt unqualified or unworthy? I remember very clearly the first time I traveled to Boston, MA and had to present to a group of health care professionals from across the nation about Medicare and its effect on the aging population. Even though I was confident in the material I was presenting, I was still very intimidated. Every person in the room was either a peer or a superior. What could I tell them that they didn’t already know? I was so nervous I began to feel physically ill with painful stomach cramps. Everything in my mind and body was overwhelmed with fear and telling me to back out.
I called my mentor, my mom, and she reminded me of all the preparation I had, not only for this presentation, but also throughout my entire professional career.
“You have been preparing for a long time for an opportunity such as this. Opportunity only presents itself to people that are prepared,” she said.
Mom reminded me that I was chosen because someone saw my ability. I didn’t need to try to be anyone else, I just needed to “do me,” as she called it; I just needed to rely on the tools I already had in my toolbox and share my knowledge with the world. I just needed to go out there and shine.
These are the three things that I learned from that experience:
1. Proper studying and preparation always pay off.
2. It’s not who you are that holds you back, but who you think you are not.
3. You cannot live your life in fear of failure, but let faith take you to the next level.
Fear is just a lie that is activated to prevent you from being your best you. Each of us is designed for a purpose, we just need to take a leap of faith to overcome every obstacle that has been holding us back. We are no longer waiting for our employers, our co-workers, our family, nor our friends to approve our happiness, our success, or our elevation into our next success story. We no longer need validation from people to build our self-esteem or our inner strength. We are already armed with the knowledge that we can rise above other people’s opinions about how we should act, who we should be, and their definition of what our happiness should look like. We just need to allow ourselves to shine.
And, guess what? The more you shine your light, the brighter it gets. The more you cultivate and implement your passions, the more confident you grow in your ability to execute when a new opportunity to shine presents itself. Everyone is not going to be able to take your shine, but don’t let anyone dim your light.
This week, I challenge you to take that leap of faith in your life that will propel you in the purpose God has designed for you. Become the change agent that you’re waiting for. God have given us the power and authority to shine.
Continue your road to your glow up!