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No recipe today, but I’ve been feeling super inspired lately, and I’m so excited to share what I’ve been learning. Brit + Co. is running their second Selfmade course, and, at the encouragement of a great friend, I signed up.

Now in our third week of classes, we are deep diving into the world of branding and what makes our business ideas uniquely awesome. Brit and Anj have built such a network of inspiring women entrepreneurs, and one of the coolest things about this course is that they are sharing and connecting them with us. Our guest speaker this past Tuesday was self-made entrepreneur, advisor, and investor Tina Sharkey. Co-founder of several companies (including Brandless and iVillage), past President of others (BabyCenter, Sesame Street), and on the PBS Board of Directors, Tina is a powerhouse woman who passionately delivered an equally powerful message about building businesses with soul and purpose.

While I could ramble on about how inspiring Tina’s words were for myself and my classmates, I’m just going to share with you my biggest take-away from Tina.

I heard this today on Brit + Co. Selfmade chat with Tina Sharkey, and it deeply resonated and I wanted to share it with you friends.

It’s no secret that I struggle from IMPOSTER SYNDROME in my career. How could that be, you ask?!

For quite a few deeply rooted reasons, in fact. One, I confess: I am a recovering perfectionist. Everything has to be perfect or one day y’all will discover that I’m a fraud. How could I be a good cook? I don’t deserve those awards. I never went to culinary school.

Silly, I know.

And it has held me back hardcore. But not anymore. Nothing will ever be perfect, no matter how much or how hard you try. And truly it just stems from FEAR.

FEAR of failure

FEAR of success

FEAR of going against what everything thinks I SHOULD be doing

FEAR or not being the “good girl”

But fear is also a gift, and I’ve always liked to lean into my fears and do things the scare the bejesus out of me because out of fear comes growth and learning. So I’m putting it out there that today and every day, I give myself PERMISSION.

PERMISSION to not be “perfect”

PERMISSION to make mistakes

PERMISSION to not follow the path that others think I should

PERMISSION to be fully me always

PERMISSION to believe in ME

Authenticity has always been one of my top life values, yet at times I’d stuff my feelings, needs, beliefs for fear of being too much or not being “nice”. I’m finally daring to stop being so damn apologetic about my emotions, my values, my needs, and my methods that might go against the status quo. Choosing authenticity and acting with integrity means the root of your behavior comes from a place of truth, not obligation or a fear of being disliked. I don’t identify with being nice (externally motivated) to be liked, I identify with being kind (internally motivated) because

kindness is a type of behavior marked by acts of generosity, consideration, or concern for others, without having any expectations or praise or reward.

Kindness and sharing the nakedness of your feelings is contagious. And life becomes a lot more fun when you aren’t constantly worried about what others think about you. Living in joy is my natural state of being, and that is the way I always want to maneuver through life.

How about YOU? Are you choosing you?

I’d love to hear how you are giving yourself permission in the comments!