You: Becoming Bolder

Not every person is born with the natural inclination to share themselves with the world. Some are outgoing, some are introverted, and some are quiet. We feel different levels of comfort in different places, situations, and people. Those unique traits to our personalities make us exactly what we are meant to be: OURSELVES.

Insecurities are something created in us from outside sources. There are a multitude of reasons we doubt ourselves, or think lowly of ourselves, or even criticize ourselves. However, all of those are created in us from outside ourselves. You never meet a 2-year-old who thinks they're ugly or incapable. On the other hand, we all meet PLENTY of adults who feel that way. That doesn't make any of us less than. We are exactly the person we were designed to be.

Somehow, despite all the variables of the universe, we came together with our specific group of traits. There is only one of us in the universe, and even though we can get caught up in self-doubt, that is reason enough to celebrate ourselves. Often, we can think of this and, at times, it can make us feel isolated. We don't feel like we fit in with the people around us. But we aren't meant to; we are meant to be unique. We are meant to be us, not strive to be someone else. Think of it as an opportunity to grow into the best, most powerful versions of ourselves.

You may not think that becoming a bolder person will make you better. But I don't mean be the loud, obnoxious person who's constantly bragging about themselves or their accomplishments. I mean being able to really own yourself, embrace yourself, and make yourself more bold in how you love yourself.

Loving yourself empowers you to be comfortable in your own skin and realize all that you have to offer the world. It teaches you to accept yourself, no matter what faults you have. Loving yourself gives you the confidence to stand in this world as you, just you. In loving yourself, you allow yourself to shine brighter in the best light possible. Your radiance draws others and opportunities to you so that you can continue to grow.

As others are drawn to you, it gives you the opportunity to love them as well. It doesn't need to be romantic, but just genuine care for the other people around you. The more you do it, the more it becomes a natural habit of yours; it becomes easier over time, and thus, brings good energy to those around you. That radiance from inside yourself gives them a beacon to follow and learn from. It's both electrifying and contagious.

That's why you have to learn to become a bolder version of yourself. Otherwise, you’ll hide your light from the rest of the world, and by causation, the world is a darker place. We all need each other’s light once in a while to find ourselves in the world. To lift up one another and take care of one another.

So push back that voice in you that tells you you aren't good enough, you aren't capable enough, you aren't powerful; because you are. You are enough to bring a light into this world and you are enough to let it shine. If enough of us can love ourselves, we can bring about REAL change in this world for the betterment of all. It starts with one moment, one shift of focus, and one person.

If we let it, it will grow to critical mass and get us to a world illuminated with the brightest, boldest individuals who can show the rest of the world that there is power in love; particularly self-love.