How To Re-Invent Yourself

With each new opportunity, I think of ways to bring a fresh part of myself into it.  I don’t just want to conquer the experience, I want to grow and awaken parts of me that may be lying dormant.  Sometimes it is a new hairdo or adding new pieces to my wardrobe or simply a change in perspective.  To me, reinventing myself includes using my talents in ways that I may not have thought to do so in the past.  For example, my degree is in print journalism and for the longest I limited myself to seeking out and accepting primarily print opportunities.  What I failed to see at the time was that working in the print media industry means that I should remain open to all communications ventures.  I can recall the first time I was asked to speak at an event and how fast I said “no.”  The thing is, I didn’t have a real reason to say no, it just came out.  Perhaps in retrospect, I felt unqualified but as I think about it now I didn’t realize the consideration that went into that request.  I had spent countless hours sharing well thought out accounts of wisdom with a group of ladies who not only sang my praises but returned with friends.  In my mind, I was just engaging in girl talk and it never occurred to me once that I was hosting an “organic group forum” and headlined as the speaker.  Even as I write and think about it today, I am nervous but not as much as before.  Since that time, I have taught numerous classes on a variety of topics and plan to continue.  Reinvention means change and with change comes fear.  I am sure that anyone who has stood in front of a crowd as a speaker feels some nervousness but what I know now is that giving in to fear is a horrible way to surely stunt growth.

What are some ways to reinvent yourself?

1.  Put all of your givens on the table.  You are fearfully and wonderfully made.  There is no one else who can do what you were created to do.  Keep fresh on your mind that fact that you were presented with an opportunity because someone saw that light that shines so bring inside of you.  It is apparent to everyone.  Just make sure you are not the one to blow it out.

2.  Have fun with it all.  If you have fallen into a routine and continue to do things the same way year end and year out then it is time to shake it up a little.  Break the monotony, spruce things up a bit.  Try a new way or give in to taking a chance.  You won’t regret it because in the end the discovery is still the same.  Allow yourself to rekindle your creative side that got you to where you are now.  Enjoy the journey.

3.  The secret to success is in one word – SMILE.  When we smile, we exude confidence and a sense that we are balanced, calm and in control.  Now even if this is not the case, it’s the old cliche “never let them see you sweat.”  A smile sends the message that with you there is purpose and it influences others to discover theirs.

Our lives here on earth are not accidents.  So it is very important that we take the time to retool every so often.  You don’t need a reason to do it.  Reinventing yourself is a fun way to connect to and become the you that you were created to be, the very blessed you.