This is Brené Brown’s authenticity mantra and I’ve made it mine too! It works magic I swear!! This is my all-time favorite mantra when I’m feeling uncomfortable in a situation.
I love this quote or mantra because it reminds me that I’m good enough just the way I am. I don’t have to become invisible or pretend I’m better than I am to be accepted. I just need to be me.
Here’s how I break down the pieces:
Don’t shrink means don’t try to become smaller or invisible or crawl into a hole.
Don’t puff up means that I don’t have to try to be something that I’m not or pretend that I’m better that anyone else.
Just stand your sacred ground means that I’m good enough just the way I am.
This mantra has gotten me through some crazy situations in the past where I would have run away or not shown up when I felt uncomfortable. That sucks because I miss out and I don’t want to miss anything.
A while ago, I was going to a party with some new friends. I pulled up to this beautiful home and I immediately felt small, like I didn’t belong. I sat in my car for a minute, I considered leaving and making up some excuse about why I hadn’t shown up.
I felt my head drop, my shoulders roll inward and my back hunch – I felt small. I remembered this mantra and I repeated it to myself a few times. I moved my head from side to side; I scrunched my shoulders up and down – all of a sudden was ready to do into the party.
Something magical happened in that moment – it was the first time I was able to shake off the shame of not feeling good enough and carry on with what I really wanted to do! That was success! I went into the party, met some fabulous people and had a great evening!
I often think back to that night and all of fun I would have missed if I had allowed myself to feel small and shrink. Thankfully, I don’t have to do that anymore and neither do you.
