Express Yourself with Confidence

The Struggle to Start Fresh

It’s mid-January 2022, and if you’re like me, you may have taken your time getting into the new year. Many of us, when facing grief or uncertainty, find it difficult to embrace the newness of a new year. The world feels heavy, and the noise in our lives can become overwhelming.

I had this conversation with someone recently, reminding them that it’s just a Saturday, and it’s not the rest of their life. This little comment was meant to help them see that, even though things are hard right now, there’s always room for growth, change, and renewal.

Setting Priorities: Finding Your Theme

At the beginning of December, I sat down and asked myself, “What would my theme for this year be?” I decided I wanted to have just one theme that would keep me grounded and focused throughout the year.

In the process of uncovering what was holding me back, I realized that I still had a lingering fear of being ridiculed. Growing up, I was incredibly sensitive and struggled with the belief that if I spoke up, people might judge or ridicule me. But then the answer came to me: express yourself.

Expressing yourself is the key to freedom—freedom to say what’s on your heart and to be seen as you truly are.

Embracing Freedom Through Expression

Over the years, I’ve done extensive coaching work, and I've uncovered many deep-seated beliefs that've been holding me back. One of the most impactful realizations I’ve had is that my desire to be expressive had been stifled by the fear of being judged.

I’ve always been someone with a busy brain, and I’d often think that I couldn’t sit still to meditate or focus. But, in recent months, I’ve discovered that expression doesn’t have to follow the traditional rules we’ve been told. It’s not about following a protocol—it’s about being intentional with how we live, how we act, and most importantly, how we express ourselves.

In my meditation, the phrase that came to me was “Let the experience come to you.” This idea really resonated with me because so often, we try to force experiences or outcomes instead of allowing them to come naturally.

The Power of Doing It Now

When I was thinking about podcasting again, I realized I didn’t need to overthink it. I had been sitting on the idea for a while, but the key was just to take action. I turned on my computer, sat down in my pajamas, and started recording. I didn’t worry about being perfect, I just wanted to express myself—and that’s exactly what I did.

So often, we get in our own way by overthinking things, doubting our ability to express ourselves the way we want to. But the truth is, expression comes from action. It’s about moving past the fear and doing the thing you’re called to do.

The Desire to Be Understood

One of the underlying fears I had for so long was the fear of being misunderstood. Growing up, I wasn’t always heard or understood, and that need to be “validated” or “seen” stayed with me well into adulthood. But the truth is, it’s not anyone else’s job to understand us. It’s our job to understand ourselves and express who we are without worrying about whether others understand.

Expression is your gift. When you express yourself, you lift up others, and when you do that, you lift up yourself as well. But it’s important that we express ourselves authentically—not to control how others see us, but to be true to who we are.

Overcoming Resistance

If you’ve been resisting your creative or expressive self, I want to ask you: Where is the resistance coming from? Are you resisting exercise? Creativity? Speaking up? The act of resisting is what holds us back from fully expressing who we are.

I remember when I first started exercising after years of being too busy or unsure. It was hard to get started, but once I shifted my mindset, I realized that I could take small steps toward expressing myself through movement and self-care. It doesn’t have to be perfect—it just needs to be aligned with who you are.

The Power of Pre-Creation

When I was raising my kids, I found creative outlets in things like interior decorating. At the time, I couldn’t afford to redecorate my house, but I found joy in pre-creating—cutting out magazine pictures and creating vision boards for a future where I would have the space and resources to decorate as I dreamed.

Pre-creation is powerful because it lets you visualize what’s possible. It allows you to create in your mind before you can physically bring it to life.

Making Time for Self-Expression

In our busy lives, we can find pockets of time to express ourselves—whether it’s through journaling, meditating, creating, or simply being present with ourselves. Even 15 minutes a day can make a difference in helping you tune into your creative energy.

I remember when I wanted to exercise and felt like I didn’t have time. My solution was to be creative about my schedule. I moved dinner and bedtime earlier so I could get up at 5 AM and exercise. This was a form of creativity that helped me get closer to my goal of staying active and healthy.

Find Your Creative Expression

You don’t need fancy tools or equipment to start expressing yourself creatively. You don’t need a full art studio to create, or a successful blog to start blogging. Start with what you have. Your creativity is there within you—it just needs the freedom to flow.

If you’re trying to find ways to express yourself, start small. Whether it’s drawing, writing, creating, or simply having a meaningful conversation, express yourself in the moment.

Living Your Truth

You are here to create. We are all born to create—whether it’s art, ideas, businesses, relationships, or anything else. When you express yourself authentically, it frees you. It allows you to expand, grow, and evolve. But you can’t do that if you’re living with resistance.

Your expression is your gift. Don’t hold back from using it. Speak up, show up, and be the creator of your own life. When you do, the world around you will benefit too.

Final Thoughts

The year is just beginning, and it’s never too late to set an intention or theme for your life. Express yourself. It’s not just about what you say, but about how you live your truth. Every day is a chance to express who you truly are—don’t wait for tomorrow to start living the life you want.

Go out and express yourself today. And when you do, the gifts will come.

If you need more guidance or have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out. You can email me at teresafordcoaching@gmail.com. Let’s create, express, and grow together!

Note: You can access the full blog content in audio versions on Spotify and YouTube. Happy listening! 🎧 

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