Recently, I was at my local grocery store deli, and the woman working there, Chrissie, was doing a great job at slicing and stacking the cheese.  The way she does her job really does make a difference, because improperly stacked cheese becomes a problem at home (small thing, I know, but sometimes it’s the small things!)…the slices break, they stick together, and slicing it too thin makes it impossible to peel apart. 

So, on one particular day, I decided to tell her how excellent she was at it, and how much I appreciated it.  With a big smile, she looked at me and said, “Everybody’s gotta be something!”.  I smiled, and then laughed out loud.  That is so simple, yet so true.  Yes, everybody does have to be something. 

Everybody always, in every situation, is something, whether it’s what you choose to be, or who you are by habit, default, or by reaction.  So, what something are you?

There is a principle at iPEC Coaching that says, “How you do one thing is how you do everything.”  Choosing how you want to show up…who you want to be…is a significant decision, and sometimes not an easy one to follow through with. 

What does it mean to choose how we want to show up?  It involves making deliberate decisions about our values, and asking ourselves, “do my actions align with my values?”.  It involves choosing the way we want to be seen by others, what sets us apart, and what brings us together. 

It can show up in many ways such as commitment to ongoing learning and growth, how we collaborate with others, the goals and plans we set for ourselves, and being vulnerable enough to allow ourselves to be seen. 

Oh boy, that last one, being vulnerable, that can be a tough one.  What kinds of feelings does that bring up for you?  Fear?  Judgment?  Anxiety?  Apprehension?  Maybe joy?  All of these feelings are completely normal, and understandable because most people want to be liked and accepted. 

Also, it’s been said that what you think about, you bring about.  In what ways can you choose to think about self-acceptance instead of judgment?  Who could you choose to be if you approached life from that perspective, and how might others get on board with you if you exuded self-acceptance?

Maybe you chose one path to travel down for work…it’s how you’ve defined yourself, and you’ve invested in it, and now it’s not working for you.  Now what?  Who are you now?  Well, the good news is…you’re still you.  Who you are is not what you do.  Who you are is you, on the inside. 

You can choose to do anything, yet still be you on the inside.  You can be courageous.  Knowing your purpose, why you’re doing something, and the value it serves, is paramount in following through on anything, including who you want to be, and what you want to do.

So, the question becomes, since you are definitely always “being” something, who are you being?  That might take some time to ponder.  It can take time, energy, and commitment to be your authentic self, but you’re worth it. 

You’re the only you there will ever be, and what a shame it would be if you didn’t share yourself with the world.  Be your best you.  Think big.  Dream big.  Achieve big.  Believe you can, and you will.

Here’s to a life of passion, positivity, joy, fulfillment, and more!

Brenda