Are you afraid to speak up in a group? Are you afraid to put yourself out there in the way that feels it would be most authentically you? If so, I can so relate!!! For a good portion of my life I was afraid to speak up or speak out – my opinions, my truths – ultimately the things that mattered to me.

And, I’d just like to say, it’s not healthy to hold yourself back. That energy gets bottled up in all kinds of negative forms, pain, regret, etc. By the time I was in my early 20’s I had a nodule on my thyroid – the area of the 5th chakra – –  and you know that energy center is all about communication and speaking your truths.

This post comes a little out of nowhere, I know, but the subject was calling me and so I just had to speak on it. The fear is all about how we will be perceived. It points to a fundamental self-confidence and self-esteem issue. And, I promise I will do many hypnosis videos and meditations to work on these areas in the future.

But, in the meantime, please just give yourself permission to be vulnerable. There’s so much courage in being vulnerable — in saying “Here I am. Here’s my work. Here’s my opinions.” and knowing that yea, some people are going to like what you’ve got to say and some aren’t. It’s OKAY. Variety is the spice of life and we aren’t always going to be the spice that lights someone up. However….. sometimes you are going to be just the thing that changes someone’s world or day for the better. And, you never know when that is going to be.  If you didn’t shine that light for them… the connection, the interaction, the next steps, the expansion of the universe would not move and ripple out in the same way.

You’re important. You’re here with a role — for reasons only God knows. Be you and don’t give a flip if it pleases another. Be you to please you. The creative force is meant to flow from you (not be bottled up)! Step out boldly.

So, you may have clicked out already, you may not have clicked in to begin with. Regardless, I want you to know me and I want to know you. I want you to know that I can be a goofy-ass (my brother and husband will attest to that loudly). And, although I rarely post pics of myself (mostly because I feel this blog and work should be about you, not me), I’m going to do it more just to expand my comfort zone and to let you know who I am. I would be honored if you did the same.

The older I get, the more communing seems like the best thing on the planet. My girlfriends and I talked about it today… the joy in having a crowded table. I think it is one of life’s most precious gifts, to sit around that table and share our stories  — to truly connect.

So, as always, with my whole heart, I’d love to hear from you. If holding back has been an issue for you too, speak up, step out there, and don’t hesitate to reach out to me, publicly or privately. And, if no one has told you yet today… I love you.

Blessings!

P.S. Just so you know, that big goofy smile in the pic is because I was sitting in front of a plate of pancakes that were so big they were hanging off the edges of the plate and I was about to go to carb heaven:)

Sandra M Bell