Stepping Into the Light of Your True Self

I’ve been thinking about what it means to be whole—to feel complete while still embracing imperfection, or perhaps even finding perfection within those imperfections. It has taken me time to feel like my full, true self. For years, my life felt so fragmented that I couldn’t imagine how all the pieces could ever come together. But now, I see things differently. I see myself differently. I try less to fit in, less to meet the expectations of others, and more to simply be—to feel, to create, to exist as I am.  

For so long, I felt like an outsider. But ironically, it was only when I stopped trying to fit in that I finally felt accepted. And I’ve come to realize that it wasn’t the acceptance of others I had been longing for—it was my own.  

Of course, self-doubt and insecurity still creep in. I’d be lying if I said they didn’t. But when they do, I remind myself who I am, who I’m trying to please, and who I’m competing with. And the answer to all of those questions is the same: me. That clarity makes it easier to move forward, knowing I’m doing the right things for the right reasons.  

Ego is not my friend—it’s just my dog’s name. And aside from him, I have no interest in keeping it around. Ego is what holds us back, what makes us feel either too self-important or too ashamed. It stops us from doing what’s right, what’s necessary. There are, of course, good parts of ego—the parts that shape our identities and allow us to think consciously—but that’s not the ego I’m talking about.  

I don’t have space in my life for shame. There are things I’ve done—things we’ve all done—that I’m not particularly proud of. But I refuse to live in their shadow. I want to move past them. I want to forgive—both myself and others—and move forward. Because if we stay stuck in the weight of our past mistakes, we never give ourselves the chance to shine. We never step into the light, bask in the warmth, and grow.  

What I want—for myself, for the people I love, and for you—is the freedom to move forward. To step into the fullness of who you were always meant to be. To become your best, truest self.  

xx  
Christina