Have you ever tried to be someone else?....Be something or someone that you're not? Usually based on what we think we "should" be or by someone else's standards, beliefs or thoughts about who we could be.....

I think most of us have gone through this to some degree. Think back to when you were a little one between ages 6 - 10. People around you already had a view of you....already had an idea of who you were and who you were to become. For example....when I was younger people around me always viewed me as intelligent, smart, strong, brave, independent. All true. And it served me well when my own teachers expected that I would always do well. I liked that feeling. I loved when I could live up to that expectation....when "they" were proud. But what happened when I couldn't or didn't? Severe feeling of failure.....like I had let someone down....and over-seeking everyone else's approval over loving, honouring and appreciating myself!

This pattern still pops up for me on occasion....wanting other teachers or leaders to see me, recognize me and pat me on the back, "You did good!". If I let this go unchecked....I found myself looking to others to tell me what to do....what path to take....I stepped out of myself and into someone else's thoughts for me.

When we do this...we leave ourselves OPEN for other's feedback...endless and often unwanted. Not all feedback is positive or helpful. When I was teaching at the Transformational Arts College....which I LOVED....we would get teacher's feedback forms after a course would complete. Almost always positive feedback....and ONE "negative" bit....It sent all the other 29 positives down the tube!