The art of doing you

BY TRISHA SMITH

I was all alone that evening, walking into unfamiliar territory with unfamiliar people. I didn’t know what to expect but I knew that my presence was called upon and I had work to do. I attended the upscale and sophisticated SheaMoisture Spring celebration this past weekend and I had no clue what I was getting myself into. I was totally cool days before the event, no jitters or anxiety at all. I’d like to think that I’ve grown out of my shyness but the morning of the event, I started to feel a bit uneasy. You know that part of you that tries to make you second guess your shine and capabilities? Asking yourself questions like, will people like me? Am I going to be socially awkward? How can i strike up conversation with total strangers? What if i don’t fit in? All these questions eased me into an anxious state until I brought myself into back into the present moment, looked in the mirror, and pulled in the power that ran through my veins with every deep breath. Within five minutes, I was back on track and my head was in the game.

You may ask why I’m sharing this with you. Well, I had the opportunity to chat with the dynamic Speaker and Neuro Life Coach Karlyn Percil at the SheaMoisture event and she said that vulnerability helps us stay connected to our ancestors, our courage and intuition, so that we may experience the full spectrum of what it feels like to be a human being. Holding back keeps us from our growth and ability to thrive.

In my moment of vulnerability that morning, I was able to witness my strength. I used the tools I had integrated into my life over the years and thrived in the face of fear.

Learning to adapt to my environment that night was key but what was even more important to me was that I was my authentic self in every interaction. I was dedicated to doing what I do best, doing me!

As I witnessed the flower ceremony that evening, where women celebrated each other with fresh white roses, Karlyn shared the four secrets to the art of doing you, using the acronym B.O.L.D.

B stands for believing in the track record you have and the one you are currently writing. Nobody comes from a place of perfection, and it is the lessons we learn from our experiences that gives us the strength to persevere.

O stands for owning your track record and your current state. We must learn to give ourselves grace, celebrate and thank ourselves instead of waiting for someone else to do it.

L stands for leveraging your superpower. We do not need to search for our purpose, it has been with us since birth. We must only get in alignment with it and allow the ancestors to guide us through.

D stands for delivering your life’s art with ancestral confidence. We must never forget that we are a culmination of that which came before us. This means that every time we walk into a room, we walk with thousands of ancestors by our side, cheering us on every step of the way. We are never alone; we are always supported and it is our task to deliver our unique gifts to the world. This is the art of doing you.

No matter what we do, there will always be people at the opposite ends of spectrum, supporting us or trying to tear us down; so why not just do you? We cannot please everyone so why not begin and end with pleasing yourself?

This does not mean to be self-absorbed and narcissistic, but rather to do what feels good to the soul.

I definitely did me that night and the experience couldn’t have been more amazing. SheaMoisture did not slip in any areas while organizing this event.  Beautiful smiles, interactive booths, friendly conversations, and great music in a welcoming atmosphere surrounded me. Most importantly for me, I was in the company of some powerful Black sisters that obliterated any stigma about Black women not supporting one another. I had the opportunity to chat with Kenyan born brand manager, Maureen Kitheka and she reiterated the fact that SheaMoisture was a Black women inspired brand serving Black men and women. She found sisterhood in SheaMoisture and couldn’t be prouder to represent and lead a team that celebrates, serves, and inspires the black community.

I personally felt sisterhood in the air and Karlyn said it best when she said that we have been taught to be everything to everyone except ourselves. We must feed upon the energy of celebration and do you! Doing you is the art of pouring into yourself first and then pouring into others, the best version of you!

Taking the time to become self-aware and discover who we truly are through introspection and healing, makes it easier to feel comfortable and at ease in your own skin. You don’t have to have it all figured out, you just must be willing to stay engaged and curious, as you co-create the pages of the story of your life as it unfolds.  Doing you is doing what feels good to the soul at any given moment, it’s doing it scared, it’s acknowledging your story and not being a victim to it but a victor, it’s understanding that you are not for everyone and that is ok! It’s walking with the strength of your ancestors and wielding the purpose that you have been called to bless this world with. It’s time to do you!