Which helped me learn to say F@&% it and just do me. Wholly and authentically.
I’m an over-thinker with anxiety, a workaholic, an introverted-extrovert, overly confident sometimes, and fierce. Some would say these are flaws. I say they’re the reason I’m so great at what I do.
Are you also different things to different people, trying to show an “acceptable” face when the situation seems to demand it?
It doesn’t matter what adjectives you use to define your authentic identity — you need to STOP apologising for who you are!
There’s a reason why “This Is Me!” from The Greatest Showman haunted us and got hammered on the radio for months on end, and why social media is full of examples of why we should “keep it real.”
There’s a turn in the tide of opinion; a wave of individuals embracing the fact that who you are is not just ENOUGH, it’s a cause for CELEBRATION! I don’t think I truly understood this until I reached my 30s.
It’s not necessarily about the “wisdom” that comes with age, but the power of lived experience.
In my 20s I was independent and fierce. But I let other people’s opinions affect who I was. From being confident and ready to KILL it, I would falter when criticised and let other people’s insecurities change my path. My spark was spluttering, and I was on the verge of burn out.
So, I went it alone career-wise and became freelance. It helped me create professional integrity and strength, by shielding me from the physical and emotional “pressure” of others. Then in 2018, I went through a devastating divorce… from a job. One that I felt very passionate about.
In the pain and disappointment of such a loss, I grew a new-found inner strength which drives the Katrina Hutchings you see now. From that point on, I stopped apologising for being awesome and stopped giving a shit about what other people thought of me.
I’m no self-help or introspection guru. I’m a normal person; imperfect, making mistakes, but with experience to share. I strongly believe you enjoy life much more if you follow five basic precepts given to me by a colleague a few years ago:
- It’s okay to care deeply about people, but sift through their opinions with care.
- It’s good to make people happy, but you’re NOT responsible for their happiness.
- When you face negativity from someone, it’s a sign that something is broken in them, not you.
- Distance yourself permanently from people and situations that undermine your strengths.
- Stand proud behind your own merits and your convictions.
So, today own your identity, enjoy your strengths and accept your “soft spots.”
Be bold and be FABULOUS!