It is the Warrior’s task to become visible and through example and intention to empower and inspire others.
– Angeles Arrien
Are you afraid to show your true self to others?
Sharing your true desires with others and speaking up for yourself can be frightening. Whether it happens in a personal or professional environment, hiding your true self feels safer than being seen.
Unfortunately, trying to be safe by hiding our true selves is the very thing that will cause us pain.
Here are a few strategies for being visible so we can let our true selves shine with our friends, family, co-workers, customers, and the greater world at large.
SHINE THE LIGHT ON SOMEONE ELSE
Six of Wands
Instead of putting the spotlight on yourself, practice shining a light on someone else. Write reviews, recommendations, and referrals for the products, people, and services you love. By showcasing the wonderful goodies you find, everyone will benefit.
Instead of putting the spotlight on yourself, practice shining a light on someone else. Write reviews, recommendations, and referrals for the products, people, and services you love. By showcasing the wonderful goodies you find, everyone will benefit.
SPEAK UP FOR THE UNDERDOG
Queen of Swords
It’s easier to speak up for others than it is to speak up for ourselves. When you see injustice, prejudice, bullies, or abuses of power, say something. You don’t need to shout publicly or create a movement. Even a simple, “I saw what happened to you and it was wrong,” goes a long way.
It’s easier to speak up for others than it is to speak up for ourselves. When you see injustice, prejudice, bullies, or abuses of power, say something. You don’t need to shout publicly or create a movement. Even a simple, “I saw what happened to you and it was wrong,” goes a long way.
BORROW COURAGE
The Emperor
Learn about your heroes and how they handled adversity. Read books, watch documentaries, or listen to podcasts featuring people doing brave and bold things. You’ll discover that everyone feels fear and acting in spite of that fear only takes one small decision.
Learn about your heroes and how they handled adversity. Read books, watch documentaries, or listen to podcasts featuring people doing brave and bold things. You’ll discover that everyone feels fear and acting in spite of that fear only takes one small decision.
BE ANONYMOUS
Page of Swords
If you are afraid to share your art, writing, music, or creativity with others, share it anonymously. Use a pen name or alternate persona and don’t tell anyone who you are. Be like Banksy, Elena Ferrante, or Daft Punk. Use your secret spy-like anonymity to be wild and fearless.
If you are afraid to share your art, writing, music, or creativity with others, share it anonymously. Use a pen name or alternate persona and don’t tell anyone who you are. Be like Banksy, Elena Ferrante, or Daft Punk. Use your secret spy-like anonymity to be wild and fearless.
WEAR WHAT YOU WAN
Queen of Wands
Use your clothing like a costume. When you need to be brave, wear your “superhero boots.” When you want to feel creative, wear an artistic piece of jewelry or a colorfully clashing outfit. When you want to hide (intentionally, like your secret-spy-anonymous-creative-self), wear black or gray. Let your clothing speak to the world about how you want to be seen.
Use your clothing like a costume. When you need to be brave, wear your “superhero boots.” When you want to feel creative, wear an artistic piece of jewelry or a colorfully clashing outfit. When you want to hide (intentionally, like your secret-spy-anonymous-creative-self), wear black or gray. Let your clothing speak to the world about how you want to be seen.
ACT “AS IF”
Eight of Pentacles
Feeling fear is a given. When you are trying something new or big, act “as if” you’ve already done it before. If you want to be a best-selling author, do the things best-selling authors do. (Butt in chair every day and work with a great editor). If you want to be a confident public speaker, do what confident speakers do. (Practice, more practice, and get a great outfit). Act as if you are already successful and you will be.
Feeling fear is a given. When you are trying something new or big, act “as if” you’ve already done it before. If you want to be a best-selling author, do the things best-selling authors do. (Butt in chair every day and work with a great editor). If you want to be a confident public speaker, do what confident speakers do. (Practice, more practice, and get a great outfit). Act as if you are already successful and you will be.
Images shown are the Six of Wands from the Revelations Tarot by Zach Wong © 2005 Llewellyn Worldwide, Ltd., Queen of Swords from The Linestrider Tarot by Siolo Thompson © 2016 Llewellyn Worldwide, Ltd., The Emperor and the Eight of Pentacles from The Green Witch Tarot by Ann Moura and Kiri Ostergaard Leonard © 2015 Llewellyn Worldwide, Ltd., Page of Swords from Llewellyn’s Classic Tarot by Barbara Moore and Eugene Smith © 2014 Llewellyn Worldwide, Ltd., Queen of Wands from The Wild Unknown Tarot Deck available at www.thewildunknown.com. All rights reserved, used with permission.