There was a time I didn't choose real. I chose to try and be like everyone else. I desperately wanted to fit in. But I couldn't. I was trying to be what I thought others wanted, but was always left feeling confused and empty. In my mind, I was not enough…
#RealTalk - Been there for sure and actually feeling it right now... it’s been a really challenging last few months. In September I realized I've actually been BURNT OUT all this year. That felt right but sounded like a bit of a shock. I mean so often you hear about burn out being these life shattering stops and breakdowns, but I was still pushing on. However, I've realized burn out can also be a SLOW EROSION. Slowly loosing motivation, passion, energy, drive, joy, until it's just so hard to keep pushing through and your body starts forcing you to stop...
I kept saying to myself: "I'll do the selfie part when my skin is clearer/I've had more time to do my hair and make up/when I've tidied the house and there isn't washing everywhere". Then I realised - I am choosing real. Why would I want to contribute to such a campaign with a "fake" picture?! So here I am - in all my glory (or not) - as I am, no make up, pulling a weird face, but loving being part of this and being a voice for those who would be swallowed up by those same thoughts...
So excited to share this video with you! Michelle Poler is the amazing founder of Hello Fears - who bravely journeyed through 100 Days Without Fear, facing a different fear each day and inspiring millions along the way. She has put this beautiful film together in inspiration of the ChooseREAL Campaign! Standing with us as we encourage others to “choose to be you"...
No matter what people say or how they make you feel, we all need to remind ourselves and others that we are more than enough.
Every person is made uniquely and beautifully in their own way! I choose to accept the things I don't like about myself because that's what makes me- ME.
YOU are more than enough.
Song of Solomon 4:7
"You are altogether beautiful, my love; there is no flaw in you."
Anna Plant
Not shrinking back from from what I am called to BE and DO even if it means that sometimes I will make mistakes or I will get it wrong and be ok with that!
Getting caught up with perceived fear rather than responding in FAITH!
REAL is being able to live my life how I want to live my life. I no longer have to worry about what people think of me. I am free to be me and I am free to live happily and I can do so with confidence and with a smile on my face.
I went through a low point in my life where I suffered with low self esteem and no confidence. I suffered from skinny shaming when I was younger so I covered up myself.
As I got older I suffered with feeling like I still needed to cover up because I was "too fat".
I was denying myself the chance of happiness and would not do certain things like wearing a bikini on holiday or wearing pretty dresses. I was worried about being judged.
But one day, I just woke up and thought "Life is too short to deny yourself happiness, you have experienced a lot of sadness and upset in your life, so wear the bikini, wear the pretty dress, you have a life to live and memories to make and you don't want to look back in X amount of years with regret that you denied yourself so much happiness because of what others might think".
"She is the Global Ambassador for Pin-up's Against Bullying and England Chapter Advocate."
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/girlinthegreencoat
"I ChooseREAL - it's been the most freeing and empowering thing I have done and want to encourage everyone else to join me in this movement and know you are more than enough!" Sharing your story of what being REAL looks like for you can bring freedom, hope and courage to others.
Growing up in a technology obsessed world it's often hard to focus on who I want to be and how to be real with my identity. There's often negative posts on my fb or Instagram from friends and media companies that leave me questioning my self worth. Esteem Designz and their ChooseREAL campaign has posts that always stand out on my social media and gives me a burst of encouragement and motivation for the day! Im so glad that I am now involved in this revolution and I've taken the stand to choose real and be me!
BEING FEARLESS EVERYDAY!
Fear of rejection.
Being real is dressing the way you want because it makes you feel good and because you don't care what people think. It is feeling confident to go out without make up on.
The worry of being judged.
Not filling my time entirely with stuff.
Being content with not being "productive".
Enjoying my own company without the need for validation.
Struggling to think that I'm a "hard worker" without being busy.
Not changing who you are and just be yourself.
Judgement!
Being true to yourself.
Changing to fit in.
Being REAL looks like accepting me for who I am and celebrating who I have been created to be, It means being a grown up. Taking responsibility for my actions, saying sorry when I need to. Being REAL means not comparing myself to others, being ok with who I am. It means valuing myself and others, knowing I'm part of a bigger picture. Being REAL is about being vulnerable, living generously and living out loud for those who don't have a voice.
Believing what God whats about me.
Making the choice to value me for me.
Doing something even if you don't know if you're good at it.
I'm scared that someones better than me.
"So excited to be a part of the ChooseREAL movement!"
"Today I Choose Real! I choose to be me! and I choose to stand for you! the girl who feels like she's never enough. The girl who just wants to feel comfortable in her own skin. The girl who feels the pressure to hide who she is to be like everyone else. I stand up for you and I beg of you to Choose Real!! This world needs you just as you are!!"
Lovelies, I just wanted to take the opportunity to share with you about a fantastic campaign I'm blessed to be a part of: The ChooseREAL Campaign! How many times have we looked in the mirror and thought: “Ergh! Is that my face?!”, “I wish I was thinner!”, “Do my thighs really need to touch?!” … IT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE LIKE THIS!! I repeat IT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE LIKE THIS! This is where the ChooseREAL campaign is coming from. It’s about raising awareness of this negative and scarily ‘normal’ way of thinking. It’s about being a solution and taking action, calling on all girls and women to actively take back their right to decide that they ARE GOOD ENOUGH just they are, that they ARE WORTHY of every opportunity life gives them and that they ARE FREE to be unashamedly themselves. This may not be something that will happen overnight – heck this is something I’ve been battling with for years! But we have a responsibility, not only to ourselves but to all the girls and women in our lives who we love, admire, care for and adore. Think what freedom and relief they could feel if they weren’t weighed down by these false ideas that they aren’t good enough or that if they just had X, Y and Z their lives would be better somehow? What a joy it would be to see this and feel it ourselves! We would ABSOLUTELY LOVE For you to join us! Share the campaign with girls and women you want to empower!
Growing confident in the person that I am.
Knowing that while there is always room for improvement, there are also points to be proud of!
From now on? NOTHING!
