Trust in Your Individuality

By Gina Ratliffe

I've been thinking lately about how easy it is to get bogged down by the busyness of life.

As a success coach, I often hear women stressed out about who they think they are supposed to be and what they think they are supposed to be doing--in life and in business. I see women entrepreneurs regularly compare themselves to others--it's a very human characteristic and it's a hard habit to kick.

But you know what? It is amazing how much more you can get from life when you stop and take a second to appreciate that maybe you are being and doing exactly who and what you should.

I had a meeting this morning with a new business colleague, and it was amazing to hear him describe what he considered to be the most effective part of my website. He responded most to the exact aspect of my website that I feared wasn't exciting enough (as I compared my website to others I've seen).

He said:

"There are lots of folks out there teaching you how to get rich on the internet, but I responded differently to Gina because she focuses not only on how to get rich, but also on how to improve yourself as a person while doing it."

I released a very big sigh of relief upon hearing that the "touchy feely," spiritual side of myself turned out to be the most effective in communicating my goals.

This is very true in business, but it's also true in your personal life.

I recently befriended a young woman named Betsy who turns 30 in a few days. Betsy explained to me that when she hits 30, she plans to try to reign in her personality because she feels like compared to "everyone else," she comes across as too overbearing.

I talked through this with Betsy and let her see that her own unique "big" personality is exactly what draws others to her and why she is loved by her friends and family. Altering her personality because she feels like she is "supposed" to act a certain way would mean living her life in an unauthentic way.

Seven Tips for Staying True to Yourself

1. Don't second guess yourself. You're likely on the perfect path for you.

2. Let your freak flag fly! Basically, your own uniqueness is what will draw other unique, life-enriching individuals to you.

3. Remove the word "should" from your vocabulary. (What you should do, what you should say, who you should date, where you should work, etc.) It gives too much power/importance to other people. Instead focus on the word "want" -- what you "want"to do, how you "want"to live.

4. Pick one person in your life who stays really true to themselves and model that quality in your own life.

5. Take time for YOU and write out a list of your ten best qualities. If your best friend were to write them out, what would she or he say?

6. Connect yourself to your spiritual self--you were made the way you are for a reason. Time to embrace the real you.

7. Get over yourself-the good news is, you're just like the rest of us, original, unique, and perfect just as we are.

Here are a few examples of women I personally know who I see showing up as their unique self in the world:

� Annaliza Spiga - www.DolceBakedGoods.com
� Angie Renick-Hayes - www.WholeSelfKnowing.com
� Dr. Sirah Vettese - www.SpiritualMakeovers.com
� Christianne Schull - www.OutrageousGoodFortune.com
� Desiree Doubrox - www.AnEmpoweredWoman.com
� Anna Miller-Sharma - www.LaBellavitahome.com

Check them out and enjoy!

Mostly, enjoy being the precious you, that only YOU can be this week.

If you would like to learn valuable lessons like how to live your life authentically and how having a mentor can make a positive change in your financial success and career, check out how at Queen Esther's Royal Strategies for Success, How To Create YOUR At-Home Online Empire Teleseries. This class can help you make more money consistently and have fun as you do it!