#1 EMBRACE WHO YOU ARE

Learning to embrace who you are - accepting and celebrating authentic self. #authenticity

TIME TO EMBRACE WHO WE ARE

I'm so excited now it's May and I have a whole month to write about things that I'm learning to EMBRACE. I don't believe in focusing on things we need to push out of our lives, instead I think we need to open our arms and embrace all the good stuff and it will fill us up until there's less room for the not so good stuff.

The first and foremost thing we all need to take ownership of and appreciate more, is our "Self" - the parts of us (body, mind, soul and spirit) that make us who we are. Those of us in midlife have worn so many hats over the years.....student, career woman, friend, daughter, girlfriend, wife, mother, grandmother, auntie, and the list could go on for eternity. Every.single.one. of these roles has equipped us to be the woman we are now and what a woman she is!

WE'RE NOT DEPENDENT ON OUR ROLES

For starters, we aren't shrinking violets who need to depend on our husbands to provide for us and give us our identity. We're waaaaay past that stage (if we were ever there in the first place). We are dynamic partners in our relationships - we are vital, and engaging, and interesting, and those who have us in their lives are blessed indeed! We can step out independently without being afraid of rejection - knowing that our partners are cheering us on to become all we're capable of being.

We're also not dependent on our role as "Mum" to fulfill us either - now we can use our mothering experience to nurture others, and not just our biological children. We use those skills with our ageing parents and the needs they have, we use it with our grandchildren, with friends who need support, with other people's children who need advice or a listening ear, and in so many other ways.

Embracing your true self radiates a natural beauty that can't be ignored. Steve Maraboli #quotes

SELF ESTEEM AND OWNERSHIP

Many of us grew up without strong role models and without the emotional affirmation that is so important to building strong self esteem. I know my parents had no idea how important it was to build those qualities into their child - especially in the early and teenage years. I am so envious of young women today who have the self assurance that's taken me 50+ years to come even close to. I had very little belief in myself or my abilities and no idea what assets I had to offer until I started blogging and THEN I met a diverse group of women who are living wide open, joyful, fulfilling lives - and I wanted what they were having! They've been an inspiration for me to start living a much fuller and more interesting life in my own right - and it's wonderful!

Part of embracing who you are is taking ownership of your identity and your personality and preferences and liking that person. We have so much to offer and so many qualities to share with others. We are "confident, untamable and badass" just like Steve Maraboli says and we need to get out there and show that to the world! We don't need to be yelling "I am woman hear me roar!" but we can be self assured, brave and authentic (one of my favourite words). 

WHAT ABOUT YOU?

There is only one unique "you" so why not make the most of her and show others what you're made of? Why not get out there and use your uniqueness to make the world a better place? Let's go girls!

RELATED POSTS:

If you enjoyed this post, it's part of a series and you can click HERE to find links to all my "Embrace Posts" - I hope you enjoy them and they inspire you.

Learning to embrace who you are - accepting and celebrating authentic self. #authenticity

To keep up to date with my posts, feel free to add your email into the spot especially for it on my sidebar and I'd love you to share this post by clicking on a share button before you go xx
This post was shared at some of these great link parties
Cresting the Hill - a blog for Midlife (Middle Aged / 50+) women who want to thrive

Learning to embrace who you are - accepting and celebrating authentic self

47 comments

  1. Oh I love your new theme Leanne - Embrace! A great way to start May.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thanks Sue - it ties in with my word for 2016 and I just love the idea of opening up to new opportunities.

      Delete
    2. Yes you have given me an idea to try later. I can't wait to read the next one.

      Delete
  2. Love it, love it, love it!
    I never get tired to remind people of the importance of being oneself.
    In all the madness of trying to fit in desperately, we simply forget we can only contribute to the world by developing our skills without losing our identity.
    Very inspiring way to start the week, Leanne.
    Thank you very much for sharing it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much Deb - and I agree, we really need to let the world see us all as individuals rather than trying to fit into the box :)

      Delete
  3. What a great theme for May! We are each so many things and it is great to remember that they are all only a part of us.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree Shari - we are all so different and we all have so much to offer - it's time we let ourselves jump up and do our "thing"

      Delete
  4. Oh yes, friend, I am no shrinking violet. And I feel the older I get the less I…shrink :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Good on you Carla - I love that you don't shrink - you are a shining example of being confident in your "self"

      Delete
  5. This becomes so much easier as we age. It is as if we grow into ourselves and feel less influenced by what others think. It is one of the great benefits of getting older.
    Carol
    http://carolcassara.com/douro-river/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree Carol - it's nice to think that there are some bonuses to this getting older thing - discovering who we are is certainly one of them :)

      Delete
  6. I look forward to a month of embracing blogs! I love that top photo. I am onboard your bad ass wagon.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm glad you're bad assing with me Haralee - it's a great time of life to be doing it :)

      Delete
  7. I'm like you, Leanne, I feel I didn't start embracing self until just recently. Being a mom was my most important role and I got lost in that role and didn't give much thought to what else I had to offer. This midlife thing has been eye opening.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know exactly what you mean Laurie - it's like waking up after a long sleep and finding that you are a whole new person!

      Delete
  8. Beautifully said, Leanne. Your vigor is a breath of fresh air. I recently read a book my friend Julie Burton wrote called "Self-Care Solution" and it addressed so many of these things you touch on, truly reaching in and taking care of and embracing who we are and sharing that with the world. Sounds like already know the importance of that. Love this post.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much Julie - I can't believe how much of my life went by before I realized how much I have to offer and how much life has to offer in return.

      Delete
  9. Amen! This truly is one of the blessings of getting older, coming into ourselves and feeling comfortable in our own skin (even it it is more wrinkled). There's so much to celebrate every day.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So true Roxanne - and I've loved meeting so many online midlifers who feel exactly the same way - it's so affirming!

      Delete
  10. This is beautiful! Embrace - shall me my new mantra for this month. It will remind me to embrace and love me! Happy Embrace Month to you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. and happy Embrace month to you Ellen :) I hope you pop back to read more and chat more over May xx

      Delete
  11. So inspirational and I pinned one of your pics. We are pretty cool, after all.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think we're much cooler than we give ourselves credit for Rebecca x

      Delete
  12. There is something 'magical' about embracing Life/Yourself. It's not only empowering but liberating! We only have one life after all!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I totally agree - if we don't celebrate who we are and the life we have then we are missing such a wonderful opportunity!

      Delete
  13. Love your new series Leanne. This is something I still struggle with - embracing me. I do think the picture is coming into focus a bit more though.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Lana - it's been a steep learning curve for me too but I'm slowly getting there - and maybe some of my other posts will spur you on :)

      Delete
  14. A good reminder to save time for ourselves. All to often we leave ourselves at the bottom of the priority list.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think that is a woman/mother thing Helene and we need to remind ourselves that we are worth spending some time on too :)

      Delete
  15. I LOVE your message today, Leanne! Of course, it's a good one for EVERYDAY. I'm like you where it took 50 years to get here, LOL. I admire the confidence in young women as well.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I wish I'd known what having confidence was like back in my younger days Lisa but maybe we can make up for it in our second blooming!

      Delete
  16. Finding time for ourselves is so important. I struggle at times to give it the importance that it deserves.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think we all do Rena - it doesn't have to be big chunks of time - little moments here and there when we aren't sharing our headspace with others is really lovely.

      Delete
  17. Embrace - one of my favorite words! I never truly appreciated its meaning until the last couple of years.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mine too Michelle and I'm finding that the last few years has been such a journey into learning how to step out and open my arms up to much more x

      Delete
  18. Love the concept of embracing ourselves & all we were meant to be! What a hopeful, inspiring concept!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thanks so much - I think it's so refreshing to take ownership of who we are and start really liking ourselves.

      Delete
  19. You are so right about not having strong role models! It took me years as well to discover my true self! Love this post it's so right on!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm a little sad to think of what I could have been if my parents had realized the importance of building up their children - it would have saved me a lot of lessons along the way!

      Delete
  20. Yes, It's so important to be true to yourself. I try to make myself a priority from time to time, and it only helps my family.
    Estelle

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If we don't have a little bit of care and compassion for ourselves then we have nothing left to pass on to others Estelle - we need to find time to refresh every so often :)

      Delete
  21. Thanks so much Marilyn - we're very excited about the arrival of Sophia May and it's lovely to join the grandparent club!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Leanne, love your theme for the month of May! I have noticed a change in direction in your writing over the past several months and I am so excited for you and you are doing such an amazing job! I'm loving reading your words!

    ReplyDelete
  23. I am taken up looking at your beautiful photos. It looks like the little new life has breathed joy in you all. Powerful stuff. Congratulations.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Beautiful Leanne ... Very apt theme chosen...
    Yes lets go and embrace ourselves..

    http://serendipityofdreams.blogspot.in/2016/05/who-am-i.html

    ReplyDelete
  25. Hi Leanne, How wonderful that your local paper did such a huge article on your blogging experience. It sounds like you and I are both late bloomers. Going back to college in my 30s helped me start. Blogging has been the frosting on the cake. I don't know that it was an impetus to become a better person. That's another topic! Great article.

    ReplyDelete

Thanks so much for your comment - it's where the connection begins.