With an Orange Shirt, There’s No Hiding it
Embrace yourself and honor YOU!
Not long ago, I went clothes shopping with my mom for the first time in many months. I bought a bright yellow top, a bright orange one and a red one. That was totally out of character. I like bright colors but I don’t buy them often. Even if I did, I had always been a bit afraid of wearing them.
This picture (with my eyes half-closed! ha!) was taken when I was dancing with my 5-year-old niece who is visiting with my sister and her family. Last time I saw them was 3 years ago! I met my 2-year-old nephew for the first time, too! ❤️
I tend to buy clothes with neutral hues because it’s easy to match them with other pieces. I also liked to stay neutral.
Talk about being comfortable in your own skin? I was not.
To understand the thinking behind the color choice of clothing:
I didn’t want to stand out, I didn’t want to draw attention to myself. I wanted to stay invisible, unnoticed and non-controversial. I definitely didn’t like talking about myself.
How ironic. Deep down, I desired the OPPOSITE!
While I was often thrust into the spotlight in my previous career, I never felt comfortable in it. Later on, I realized I was hiding all along because I wanted to feel safe.
If I were safe, I would get internal peace, so I thought. Ultimately, we humans want to feel safe for our own protection.
If I stayed neutral, I wouldn’t risk being rejected or criticized, so that would save me from embarrassment, hurt and pain. I wouldn’t appear too loud, too much, too showy or too arrogant.
Then I realized: it was actually me who rejected and criticized myself for being embarrassing, too loud, too much, too showy and too arrogant.
Your peace can be disturbed if you are being challenged.
Your peace can be disturbed if you are out of your comfort zone.
Notice there are a lot of judgements I made about myself and assumptions about how I thought hiding could do me good. In reality, it was unhelpful. The result was that I dismissed compliments and I kept myself small, depriving myself of the chance to learn and grow. I could shine, but I chose not to.
Take a notice on what assumptions or judgements you have for yourself, someone or situations?
How are those thoughts affecting what you do, what you say, your choices and decisions?
How have those thoughts kept you from getting what you need?
How do you want to be different?
In what areas in your life are you are hiding?
Which parts of you are you not honoring?
Can you start allowing yourself to express who you are?
In which areas in your life can you start allowing yourself to shine, starting today?
A piece of clothing can be a form of self-expression, so can singing, writing, speaking, acting, painting and many other things.
When you allow self-expression to happen, things start to transform – for the better. And you create something that you’ve never imagined you are capable of.
My skydiving buddy Sid is a good example. Check out his drawing; he started learning how to sketch only about two months ago. I am so in awe of the ability he didn’t think he had in the first place!
To me, it starts from the basics. Start putting on your favorite color of clothing to honor who you are. Put it on and embody it. Take some action. Now see how that feels?
When I don those colorful tops, I realize:
Hey, I like them!
I look damn good in them
I enjoy the attention that I get from them
I enjoy the compliments from wearing them
I honor who I am
I embrace who I am
I embody who I am
I enjoy being who I am, unapologetically.
Sometimes this can feel like a Work in Progress but life is that.
Will you allow yourself to embrace all of your glory, gift and magnificence?
Love, joy, peace, hope, ❤️
