“Don’t dim your light just to avoid dealing with someone else.”
It was a conversation about a workplace issue and how I handled it, but it became much more profound than just a critique of how I go about my job. I immediately expanded and poeticized the saying in my head.
“Don’t dim your light to avoid someone else’s darkness.”
I thought about how often I’ve dimmed just to avoid someone else. Of how I changed the ways I presented myself, my clothing, my hair, even how I speak. And the things I pretended not to know. And all of the opportunities I chose not to take and the spotlights I stayed away from. I thought I was protecting myself. I thought I was keeping myself safe from pain, rejection, the overly harsh criticism, and worse from people living in darkness. Dimming myself didn’t do anything to fix the problem. It only left all of us sitting here in the dark.
I have been on a journey to start showing up as my full self, despite it all, to shine as bright as I possibly can. I’m thankful to have that moment and saying to refer back to and help me have the courage to continue to shine.
What are the practices you do to keep shining as your true self, regardless of the circumstances?
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