On being you... (and a challenge for the new year)

​Last week I had a moment of doubt about my newsletters:
 
Perhaps they should be more impressive…
 
Have more 'bells and whistles'!

See, I’m signed up to a few newsletters, and many of them include funny videos, beautiful images, or specially-curated playlists.
 
I started thinking to myself:
 
“Maybe I should do something like this!
 
Maybe I should include a video in every newsletter… an inspiring playlist… or secret links, GIFs, and monthly competitions!
 
Perhaps that would be more exciting for my readers!”
 
And then I realized something:
 
This isn’t me.
 
This isn’t my style.
 
Sure, my newsletters are plain, and don't have fancy features.
 
But it’s what works for me!
 
And that makes my newsletters more genuine – I can write them from the heart.
 
I can leave the videos and playlists and other whizzy things to people who do them so much better than me.
 
To people who enjoy using them.
 
See, I love writing these posts.
 
But trying to find extra, exhilarating content every few weeks would make it stressful for me.
 
And I don’t think any of us need more stress in our lives :)
 
So here’s what I realized – and this is the perfect time of year to think about this:
 
What if, in 2018, you focused on being yourself?
 
100%, unadulterated you?
 
What if you did what you do best... and left the rest for other people?
 
What if you focused on your strengths, and stopped worrying about your weaknesses?
 
(This is a lesson I’m still learning.)
 
So if you’re at a party and prefer to have a few in-depth conversations rather than talk to everyone in the room…
 
That's totally fine!
 
If you'd prefer to stay home and read, rather than head out to a sports club…
 
Know that there is nothing wrong with this.
 
If you’d rather travel to mysterious, far-flung places on your own than go where the crowds are…
 
Good for you for knowing what works for you – embrace it.
 
See, there are always gonna be people who do things differently from us.
 
Who have more exciting newsletters than us ;)
 
Who dress differently… interact differently… work differently.
 
So what if we let them be them… and we concentrate on being us?
 
(And here's the thing: we’re so GOOD at being us!)
 
So, here’s my thought for you as we head into a new year…

• What does “being you” look like?
  
  
• How can you be more “you” this coming year?
  
  
• What if you gave yourself permission to be exactly who you are?

Quirks and all :)
 
Because being “you” is so much easier than trying to be someone else.
 
And we can all tell when we meet someone who is genuinely "themselves".
 
It’s so refreshing!
 
So, go into 2018 knowing it's okay to be you.
 
People need to know and meet the real you.
 
And it’s actually much easier to show up as yourself.
 
This newsletter was easier for me to write, without the videos, or music, or fanfares.
 
Be you, reader.
 
Be unapologetically you.
 
You’re great as you are!
 
(And yes, that sounds clichéd – but it’s probably one of the most important lessons we can learn in life.)

To finish up...
 
I'm sending you warm wishes for an amazing 2018... being at peace with who you are… and creating an amazing year, whatever that looks like for you.
 
And now, I’d love to hear in the comments:
 
Who are you, deep down?
 
What aspects of “you” will you let shine through in 2018?
 
Claire