When You’re Afraid To Stand Out And Shine
- Sep 20, 2021
- 4 min read
Written by: Linda Ford, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
For most of my life, I've always wanted to lose that last ten pounds (although after a year of COVID, that number has increased to fifteen!) And I suspect you too have a certain number in mind of how much you'd like to shed. And whether it's showing up on your thighs or mid-section, that extra weight is palpable and tangible. We see it when we look in the mirror, and we feel how it restricts us.
You may be one of the lucky ones who doesn't have a problem with physical weight gain, but there's not one of us who doesn't carry some form of psychological weight. And although you can't see it and touch it in the same way you can grab your belly fat, it's just as heavy and restrictive.
Co-dependency is one of those weights I've been carrying on my back for most of my life. It's a word we hear a lot these days and it's typically applied to relationships. But I've come see how it's playing out in all areas of my life, especially in my business. How we do one thing is how we do everything! But let's first be clear what it is: Here's a great definition:
Co-dependency is a dysfunctional boundary pattern in which you are overly invested in the feeling states and outcomes of other people, to the detriment of your own life or self-care. It's when you have an urgency to help, fix or correct the person's situation even though it may not serve you.
As I look back on my relationships, I can see that I've always been overly invested in making other people feel good to the detriment of my own situation. I'm a classic peacekeeper, caretaker, and people-pleaser who has always avoided and ran away from conflict.
For example, growing up I would always play down my achievements at school – winning essay competitions or getting straight A's – because I quickly caught-on that my friends would accuse me of being stuck up, full of myself, and above them (their words!). And so I learned very early in life that doing well would make other people jealous of me and cost me my (so-called) friends! I innocently made up a story that excelling and achieving meant that I would be unloved and friendless.
Living our lives feeling worried, anxious, or overly concerned about how others are feeling at the expense of our own pursuits, is not only a heavy weight to carry through life, but it causes us to pinch-off, narrow and restrict who you really are, your talents, skills, and the dreams you have for your life.
It's you living with your dimmer-switch turned down low.
So where are you carrying extra weight unnecessarily?
In your business, do you avoid writing a blog that really says how you feel, for fear you're going to offend someone?
Does working on your business or dreams come last on your list? Do you often find yourself taking care of family needs first to the detriment of getting to your own work?
Do you find yourself holding back from taking a leadership position - speaking out, or proclaiming your expertise - because you're afraid people will call you arrogant or full of yourself?
Do you feel uncomfortable about bragging about your achievements?
Look at your life, become of aware of how you're dimming your light. Notice when you find yourself caring and worrying about how others are feeling more than how YOU are feeling. When we don't allow our own expansion, life feels heavy – as if we're carrying the weight of everyone around us on our backs. Notice how YOU are the one doing it.
It's time to turn up your dimmer switch and experience the lightness of being YOU.
Linda Ford, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Linda Ford is a master coach and author who specializes in helping introverted coaches and solopreneurs who want to have more impact and clients – who want to be seen and heard –but who struggle with imposter syndrome, hiding out fear of criticism, and the uncomfortableness of having to put themselves 'out there'.
At the heart of Linda’s work is the belief that we have to develop a deep connection with our unique gifts, message and to know our true value. This is the rocket fuel that allows us to be seen and heard and feel the ease of putting ourselves 'out there'. When we do this essential inner work, we awaken our natural confidence, charisma, and power to connect and resonate with others. It surpasses and precedes any marketing strategy.
Linda Ford is the co-creator of the online programs, The Confidence Coach – how to have more impact and change the world, and Confidence in a Box: If I’m so smart, then why don’t I feel more confident? Ford is also the co-author of the Kindle best-selling book Women and Confidence: The truth about the lies we tell ourselves.
