This week I’m celebrating my 36th birthday, and as I approach this milestone along with the new year—a time that has always felt conveniently close to my birthday—I find myself feeling particularly ‘reflective’. I like to dedicate some time during this period to contemplate what I’ve achieved in the past 12 months. Have I met my yearly resolutions? Do I feel satisfied with the person I see staring back at me in the mirror?
Years of navigating the ups and downs of life have taught me the importance of learning every day. It often strikes me how, in such a vast world, it’s all too easy to be judged and labeled the moment you step foot outside your home. This judgment can even occur within the four walls of our own space, even when living with beloved pets who may have their own judgments. However, with each passing year, I’ve noticed a shift in my perspective. I find myself increasingly less concerned with outside feedback and far more in tune with my own personal growth and evolution.
We embody so many roles in our lives: partner, parent, friend, employee, sibling, and so on. Yet, when we strip away these labels, who are we at our core? Personally, I’ve come to the realization time and again that I have a profound passion for traveling and embracing new experiences, along with a thirst for learning. This is a reflection of my authentic self, a self that I hope to nurture and celebrate for the rest of my life. As a special birthday gift to myself this year, I’ve decided to embark on a journey to Iceland. I invite everyone to follow along on the Frabeau Instagram for some stories and glimpses of my adventures there.
The truth is, we often get caught up in the whirlwind of meeting expectations—both our own and those imposed by others—so much so that we may lose sight of the individual hidden beneath those layers. Authenticity is not about achieving perfection; rather, it’s about peeling back the layers of societal “shoulds” and reconnecting with what genuinely makes us feel alive and fulfilled.
In the spirit of reflection and personal growth, here’s a journaling prompt for you today: If I stopped trying to meet everyone else’s expectations, what would I do differently?
The answer to this question might catch you off guard. It could lead you back to your true self, revealing desires, dreams, and motivations that have been overshadowed by external influences. Engaging with this prompt could spark a transformative journey, helping you reconnect with your passions and fostering a deeper understanding of who you are at your core. So take a moment, grab your journal, and explore the possibilities that lie therein. It might just bring clarity and ignite a sense of purpose as you step forward into another year of life and adventure.
#WhoAmI #BeyondTheNoise #AuthenticSelf #SelfRediscovery #FrabeauJourney #InnerPeace #LivingAuthentically
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