Becoming Real: Liberating Yourself and Your Business
What might you need to let go of to become more of yourself?
As business is kicking back into action following summer, kids are going back to school and the weather starts to cool – you might find yourself adding more. More responsibilities, more tasks, more initiatives… just more!
While the pathway to liberating yourself, your business and your results is counterintuitively exactly the opposite:
less.
If you know me, you know I love my four nieces. Checking out some books for them, I came across an old favorite: The Velveteen Rabbit. Do you know this one? A book by Margery Williams about a toy rabbit who “Became Real”. In one of my favorite passages that has been floating around the internet lately she writes:
“You become. It takes a long time. That’s why it doesn’t happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept.”
Profound, right? “Becoming” really isn’t all that common; for toy rabbits or human beings – because it’s hard to Become Real. Real as in fully expressed, engaged for maximum impact and open to realizing the greatest potential.
To become that kind of Real… it requires letting go of “sharp edge” triggers that send you down an overly emotional path that’s off track from where you want to be.
It requires letting go of the shields you have protecting the fragile parts of yourself that maybe you’ve been afraid to share but contain the genius and wisdom to breakthrough results.
It requires letting go of limiting beliefs, perspectives and mindsets that have clearly worked to get you here. But are now only holding you back from reaching that next level.
To do that, it takes time to reflect and consider: what do you need to let go of?
Is it a belief?
A habit?
A way of thinking?
A need for control?
A resistance to change?
Maybe even a relationship?
Instead of resisting, fighting, or numbing challenges you might be facing – personally or professionally – just like The Velveteen Rabbit, we can shed the futility of chasing perfection. We can let go of the pursuit of flawlessness, which only hinders growth and innovation, by embracing and liberating our imperfections, and mistakes to let your true self and business shine through.
I’m just back from running a workshop in Costa Rica where I went through this process myself. Really stepping back to re-evaluate what I need to let go of.
Why don’t you join me?
What is it that you’re going to let go of?
I invite you to post a story on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter and tag me to let me know. We’ll share the inspiration of not adding more, but letting go of more to become Real.
It’s easy to get caught up in transactions and bottom lines. However, it’s letting go of anything that’s not genuine that’s the real key. Letting go of a singular focus on profit and prioritize building authentic connections with clients, partners, colleagues and even yourself. These relationships not only enrich your business but also contribute to your own growth.
Let’s all take a page out of William’s book and embrace the transformation that comes with letting go and becoming real. And watch as your authenticity and business are liberated to flourish in ways you maybe never even thought possible.