My Life Coach Magic Trick - Part 2

Last week I wrote about putting myself on a pedestal to counteract my feelings of inadequacy. I shared that my magic trick, which isn't magic at all, is the willingness to be myself when I think I'm not going to fit in, be liked, or judged. You can read it here.

I want to take this idea further.

Why do women struggle to put themselves on a pedestal in the moments when they are genuinely worth celebrating?

- Maybe you've shared an act of kindness with someone in your family and you shrug it off.

- Maybe you're rocking a great outfit and when you receive a compliment you say "Oh, this old thing?" And then you deflect the attention back to the other person.

- Maybe you struggle to acknowledge just how great you are at what you do preferring to underplay your talents rather than taking up space.

This isn't humility. This is low self-esteem.

I totally understand not having any desire to act like an asshole or, what the more traditional definition of "full of herself" conveys; conceit and arrogance.

That's not what I'm talking about.

I'm talking about the fact that you deserve to put yourself on a pedestal because you are great.

It's time you patted yourself on the back, flung your head back while belly laughing, danced the night away in neon pink, voiced your ideas with greater confidence, winked at a stranger, and held your head up higher.

Not because you're better than other people, but because you're a woman who moves through the world with a healthy sense of presence.

I said this on the back of my book. A woman who is full of herself is the most beautiful thing you'll ever see. Honestly, this applies to any person, not just women.

Here's what I've had to learn, over many years, about putting myself on a pedestal.

When I'm up there, I'm not above you and you're not below me. I'm not superior to you and you're not inferior to me. We are the same. When I am having my moment, I will enjoy your applause. And when inevitably, it's your turn, I'll applaud for you.

I mistakenly thought that putting myself on a pedestal would cure my low self-esteem, and, even more persnickety, I didn't know I was putting myself up there because I felt scared and timid.

Learning what humility really means has been central to my increased confidence. I've learned that humility is the opposite of playing small. It's about finding the audacity to own my gifts, and, as a result, inspire others to do the same.

Maybe, just maybe, putting yourself on a pedestal this week is something you can enjoy. Just like we've redefined what being full of yourself means, maybe you can reassign a more neutral meaning to the word pedestal. Because you are great and you deserve to stand out.

With Love,

Sarah x

 p.s. Let me help you stop pretending that you're great and actually start to feel great so that when you walk into a room, you just know that you got it goin' on!