YOU CAN’T SKIP A CHAPTER

They say that our lives read like a book. You can't skip a chapter- that's not how life works. You have to read every line and meet every character. You won’t enjoy all of it. You will have some chapters you simply don’t want to read. Some chapters will make you cry for weeks. Some chapters will leave you broken. You will read things you don't really want to read. And, of course, you will have chapters that you hope will never end.

While we are supposed to be the main character of our story, it’s easy to find ourselves playing a supporting role instead. As our story unfolds, we often find ourselves swept away in the currents of life, living according to the expectations and desires of others. We self-sabotage when we have no faith in a good outcome. We have so much fear of being different from everyone around us that we continually conform to societal norms by becoming what everyone expects or tells us to be instead of who we truly are. We become small characters in someone else's narrative by people pleasing (counterfeit kindness), neglecting our own dreams (self-sacrifice), and more often than not, doing things that will block our success from accomplishing our dreams (self-sabotage). But, what if we shifted our perspective? What if we recognized that we have the power to become the authors of our own lives?

Once we realize that our story is just as important as everyone around us, we can take steps to claim our true authentic life. That life allows us to live freely, openly, and show our true self to those who love us. Don’t we owe them the real us? Our playing fake is serving no one, but instead, destroying our life. It’s time. It’s time to make the leap. Embrace the “realness” of yourself. You are worth it and those around you deserve to know your true character and story.