Accepting the fact that we are enough

By Brian Maynor

 

The fact that we are alive and being ourselves is enough.

It’s impossible to have any contact with society, especially this time of year, without being bombarded with the idea that we need to change ourselves in order to be happy.

Think about it.  How many gym membership commercials or ads have you seen?  Or diet plans and meal ordering services?  The pitch is couched in the fact that we should embrace being healthier this year, which is true, but are we really that unhealthy to begin with?

Don’t get me wrong, I am all for change when we are the impetus seeking it, but in general just being alive and living the life we choose is enough.  Or it should be.   What saddens me is to see how many people buy into the idea that they need to change simply because of expert marketing or peer pressure.  In short, they don’t think they are enough to be happy, and that couldn’t be farther from the truth.

Here are a few warning signs that we are falling into this trap and how to set ourselves free:

1.   Fear we are failing to live up to our divine purpose. Having a purpose in life is a good thing.  It motivates us, inspires us to greatness and helps give meaning and direction to our lives, but all of that should come from within in ourselves.  To feel our purpose is bestowed to us by a divine source can be more debilitating than motivating.  When we believe we’re falling behind, or haven’t yet discovered our purpose, we can begin to feel incomplete, empty or even like a failure, and I cannot believe a divine source would ever want us to feel that way.

We need to let ourselves off the hook and realize that just being here and being ourselves is enough.

2.    We are not alone. One of the benefits to being alive is interacting and connecting with other people, both physically and emotionally.  You don’t necessarily have to believe that we exchange energy with everyone around us to know that through these connections they influence our lives and we influence theres.  The fact that we are all here experiencing life, learning, growing and expressing ourselves is more than enough to justify being here.

We don’t have to save the world single-handedly or make headlines on a daily basis to validate our existence.

3.    Turn inward. Going back to the fact that we should embrace change when we want it, and not feel pressured to do it by anything outside of ourselves means we need to listen more to our hearts and less to the outside world.  We should never feel bad, unaccomplished or less than enough when we are living the way we choose and making decisions that are right for us.  In fact, being true to ourselves will free us from the pressure to conform.  We can fill our lives with our meaning and our purpose, which may be to simply experience life, be part of the co-creation process and dealing with each moment as it comes.

Motivational support from society can be great, but we should never accept it being thrust upon us under the guise that we need to change because we are not good enough the way we are.  That simply isn’t true.  Living a life true to ourselves is more than enough.  Make 2019 the year of you!

 

 

I’m always excited to hear from you, so please email your questions, quandaries and conundrums to [email protected].

 

About Brian Maynor

Brian Maynor has built a reputation as one of the leading style coaches in the Southeast and is quickly expanding his eponymous company, BRIAN MAYNOR and his FIND, FLATTER & FLAUNT line of image consulting services. A professional with a fresh, upbeat and down-to-earth personality and boundless creative energy, he works frequently with with local celebrities; Fortune 500 companies and nonprofit organizations; modeling agencies; fashion designers; production companies; record labels; media and individuals. A regular contributor to various fashion blogs and online communities, Brian Maynor is one of the most trusted and recognized style experts in the region, utilizing his education and training as a broadcast journalist to serve as a style lecturer, emcee, and commentator for over a decade. He has appeared at fashion shows, expos, and charity fundraisers, as well as events with big brands like Banana Republic, Ann Taylor, Chico’s and Macy’s. His approach is innovative, creative and fashion-forward, balancing fresh, modern styles with classic pieces to keep one’s look grounded. To learn more, visit http://www.brianmaynor.com.

 

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