“Share your story, speak up, and let your audience find you,” they say. “Be bold and creative,” they encourage. “You must be fearless and confident,” they insist. Yet, what they don’t mention is the price you pay.
Many successful influencers and content creators have pushed themselves to share their creative ideas, helping them gain exposure and opportunities. They often share stories of how they were once broke or struggling, forcing themselves to create and post regardless of feedback—one like, two comments, and countless trolls. The journey to monetary success and a sense of freedom often requires pushing through feelings of giving up, not realizing how exposing oneself to the world opens the door to many judgments and opinions.
My own journey has been rocky. Some days, I don’t want to be seen. Other days, I don’t care who sees me; I’m going to show up as my full, whole, and authentic self. They say, “Oh, you signed up for hate when you decided to be a public figure.” No, I signed up for a breakthrough. I signed up for my purpose to be fulfilled.
They say, “Just build tough skin.” It’s not about the toughness of my skin; it’s about the integrity that people have—or lack. Being public about your greatness shouldn’t give anyone the right to send hate, negativity, or chaos to someone pushing themselves out of their comfort zone to live on purpose.
I never understood what social anxiety was or how it could be a real thing until I started to experience it. Social anxiety can leave you stuck, overthinking, and full of fear. It can sometimes prevent you from showing up for yourself, leaving you feeling uneasy and unsure.
If you’re on a path of allowing the internet to push you out of your comfort zone and into the doors meant for you, here are a few tips to overcome the fears of being a public figure:
1. Get Comfortable with Who You Are: Your life is the only life you have to live every day.
2. Fill Your Cup First: If you feel a pull to shine your light, focus on feeling good first. Do what makes your heart smile, and the rest will follow.
3. Remind Yourself Daily: You are the main character, and everyone else is a seat filler. You have the power to decide who has access to your shows and who gets VIP seats.
4. Love Yourself: No matter how challenging it gets, take time to love yourself and speak greatness over your life daily.
Being seen is part of shining your light. It may blind some, it may heal others, but never let anyone dim your light.
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