FUTE tip 141

It’s so wonderful to reflect on experiences. Two years ago I did a TEDx talk on a topic close to my heart – overcoming self-limiting beliefs and finding our spotlight moments.

No matter if you are an introvert, extrovert or something in between, many of us struggle to move from the shadows into the spotlight.

Being open to ‘Yes’ enables us to redefine the spotlight, understand we all deserve to be there and share our voice with the world.

From my own personal experience and also from working with people making the transition from unknown to recognised expert, this is what I’ve learnt.

Connect with your why
It takes courage to be truly seen and heard. While we might want to have a desire to move into the spotlight, I believe it needs to have purpose.

It’s about letting our self-limiting beliefs collapse around us and ask the larger question of why? I believe it’s not about literary being in the spotlight, it’s about the synergy and connections you create when you are there.

Be of service
I believe we all have stories to tell that will help others in some way.

We have experience and expertise we have developed in our lives that should be shared because others will benefit from it. The world needs to hear what you have to say.

As soon as I realised that stepping into the spotlight wasn’t as me, it was about you, and what you take away from hearing my voice, it really helped me because I realised I was being of service.

Be yourself
Moving into the spotlight is not about being someone you’re not. Neither is it about changing your personality. It’s about allowing your true self to emerge from the shadows and being illuminated.

And it’s not necessarily about striving and seeking. It can be about standing still and feeling the ground beneath your feet and allowing people to come towards you.

It’s also about being brave enough to be vulnerable. When you are vulnerable you create connections with people because you are speaking your truth, and quite often it’s their truth as well.

Believe in your stories
We live in a world where we are encouraged to compare ourselves to others. As soon as we do this, we start living smaller lives. We start thinking our stories are not as important as theirs.

We need to have the confidence to know our stories are valid, not matter how big or small.

And finally, it’s about being open to yes
Who are you not to shine your light? Who are you not to have a voice? Who are you not to make the world a better place?

It’s not about becoming louder, it’s about becoming bolder. It’s about being open to yes.

Yes is magic. Yes is illuminating. Yes can open up opportunities you never even dreamed of.

So I’ll leave you with a question.

What are you going to say yes to today?

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Tweetable
: Overcoming self-limiting beliefs and finding our spotlight moments @CatrionaPollard @TEDx http://bit.ly/2d2sfeD

FUTE tip 138

Recently I watched the wondrous storyteller Auntie Julie Freeman share a creation story: Narawarn and the coming of the Sea.

A few years ago, as part of Corroboree Sydney I was lucky enough to sit and hear her tell stories of her people. She is an elder and a Traditional Owner from Wreck Bay in the Booderee region of NSW.

She holds the very special and important role of storyteller. Since the beginning of time, storytelling has played an important role in Aboriginal culture.

The stories are about the air, the land, the universe, their people, their culture and their history. They are handed down from generation to generation.

As I sat listening to Julie, I hung on her every word. I was enthralled. She made me laugh and she made me cry.

She shared stories about ‘deadly beautiful’ women and the troubles of brothers Whale, Starfish and Koala. She shared the story about how the blue-tongued lizard got its blue tongue and why the platypus looks likes two animals put together.

She said that once you start seeing the stories in the landscape, you start seeing it differently. “Everything is connected – the ocean, the wind, the trees, the landscape and the people.”

It was storytelling at its finest: true, powerful, emotional and wondrous. How could a story that started maybe 100,000 years ago not have all of those qualities?

I am truly blessed to live in a country that has stories woven into its landscape, and people like Julie telling them.

I truly believe that every person has stories to tell; stories that share who we are, what we stand for and why others should get to know us.

We are all connected through our shared experiences and the stories we should be telling. It’s time you start telling yours.

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Tweetable
: Why we cry salty tears – learning from the original storytellers @CatrionaPollard http://bit.ly/2bDiWTB

ABOUT CATRIONA POLLARD

Catriona Pollard Speaker and Trainer in Social Media