The Importance of Being Honest with Yourself

I've been going back and forth with starting this blog for what seems way to long. I couldn't figure out why I would start typing and then walk away half way through. It wasn't like I had writers block, my thoughts were coming faster than I could type. Then I thought, it's just not a priority in my life. But then I would spend countless hours pinning and day dreaming. Maybe it was because I had nothing of value to say, who would actually find my thoughts interesting? And then it hit me... Maybe I'm scared to show people the truth. That my life isn't filled with successful businesses and the ever so popular phrase "Happily Ever After."
 
I had a moment last week when someone asked me what seemed like such a simple  question, "Hi Malissa, how are you? How's business." And for the first time I didn't respond with the usual, "Business is G-R-E-A-T, I couldn't be happier!" Instead I looked them right in the eyes and said what I have never said out loud before, "Business is not good, I'm scared, really scared and I don't know how much longer I can keep this up." And just like that I was no longer living a lie. 

 

I liked the way it made me feel so much that with each conversation, I made a conscious choice to try and be as honest as I could with anyone who asked. Why should I continue to speak untruths just to make someone else feel comfortable? It became important to me, that if a person cared enough to inquire about myself or my businesses they should care enough to hear the truth. It was freeing, it was like I finally took a deep breathe that was followed by a long exhale.  

So here I am completely recognizing the importance of being able to live an authentic life and not the one everyone else has dreamed up for you. The first rule in my book to living an authentic life is to not only be honest with yourself, but those around you that care about what is going on in your world. People may find my honesty uncomfortable. And I understand why... Generally they want you to be thriving, they want to hear you took B-I-G chances and have evolved into this amazing success story. But, facing adversity and hard times doesn't mean I'm a failure. It doesn't make me any less of a business person because I took a chance or two. And I'm not embarrassed or ashamed to admit, that maybe just maybe... things won't turn out they way we planned. 

Now looking back, I understand why I was never able to finish a blog. I wasn't ready to be authentic. I wasn't ready to be myself.