Are you hiding?

At a book writing workshop this weekend, the participants took turns sharing their visions for their work.

After many of us outlined out plans to speak and share on a global scale, a woman writing about grief shared her thoughts:

I stopped her right there. Because those kind of assumptions kill dreams.

She didn’t mean to do it – or even recognize the fame-shaming in her statement. But in case someone else in the room silently internalized the social judgement, I had to call it out.

So many of us have dreams of who and what we know we could be. But we hold back from sharing our gifts because we’ve learned it’s selfish, greedy, self-centered, un-spiritual – whatever unflattering, shameful trait you don’t want to be.

I can’t count the number of times I’ve hidden my genius so that someone else would be more comfortable.

But that’s how dreams die.

Maybe your gift is to heal one person at a time in the quiet privacy of a small room.

But maybe it’s not.

Maybe, like me, you’re naturally skilled and comfortable on stage, at the front of the room, on camera and on air.

Maybe your message is meant for a bigger audience and you were born with the talent and the fire to share it.

That doesn’t make you selfish.

Selfish is starting your gifts in the face and then shutting the door.
Selfish is hearing your unique call and then cutting the line.

Because it doesn’t matter what you’re here to do or how you’re uniquely positioned to do it.

It only matters that you own it.

So damn straight I want to share on TV. Hell yeah I want to speak in stadiums. And you can bet your ass my books will be best sellers.

Because I’m tired of hiding. I’m tired of telling my gifts their too showy – too “big” for someone else’s comfort.

That voice doesn’t come from me.

My voice says go for it. Yes, please! You’re here for a reason.

You are too.

So take a good look at what you’ve told yourself you’re not supposed to be and decide – are you denying your truth?

Because the only real crime is not being fully, authentically you and sharing yourself with the world.

“Don’t die with the music still in you.” – Wayne Dyer

Be free. Be brave. Be YOU!

Love,
Alexis