4 minute read
Be You From The Inside Out
Be YOU From The Inside Out
by Tracy O’Neill
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I absolutely love this quote, as many times, you do have to hit rock bottom to realize that change is needed. When you’ve experienced darkness, seeing the light is the only way out. Experiencing darkness shapes you into the strong and resilient person you were always meant to be!
Have you ever felt worthless? Unimportant? Unsupported? Anxious? Exhausted? Lonely? Like you were looking after everyone else, but no one was looking after you? That was me about 7 years ago... I’m telling you this story because I know now that it doesn’t have to be that way.
Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash
I know that you can look after others, while still looking after yourself. I know that you can be happy, healthy and be the best version of yourself while still being a good mom and wife.
Not only can it be done, it’s actually absolutely necessary. I realized that by not living up to my full potential, I was actually being selfish. To my friends, family and most importantly to my kids. My kids deserve a happy mom, one who loves herself fully, so that they can learn to love themselves too. After all, kids don’t do what they are told, they mirror what they see!
5 years ago we made one of the biggest decisions of our life: a cross country move. A decision that would make me finally realize that I matter. My voice matters. My health and happiness matters. I know there are many of you out there that feel like you don’t matter. That you are not worthy of selflove. I know, because that was me and I’m here to tell you that you DO matter, that the world needs YOU exactly the way you were intended to be. You were put on this Earth to thrive, not just survive. It’s OK to be happy, to live in YOUR truth, completely and authentically.
When I surrounded myself with a community of like-minded people who breathed belief into me, who cheered me on, who celebrated my every victory, that’s when the game changed. That’s when all of my habits changed. That’s when my mindset changed. All because a friend of mine asked me to join her health and wellness community because she knew I needed help.
I KNEW what eating healthy looked like, and I KNEW I needed to exercise, but that community support had been missing. One day at a time, I put one foot in front of the other. I exercised each day. It was like therapy for me – better than therapy actually. And slowly but surely I started to take control of my anxiety and my thoughts.
Change is so good, but can be hard if you go at it alone. We need connection, support, to feel like we are a part of something bigger than ourselves. To feel unstoppable. To feel like we matter and we can accomplish anything we put our mind to. Because we truly can. Over the course of my self-discovery journey, I have helped and inspired many to do the same. I know that my work here on Earth is not over, that I have much more to do in the short time that we are here together. I have this burning desire inside of me to make an even bigger impact in the world, but that wouldn’t be possible if I didn’t decide 5 years ago to put myself first – because I mattered.
So the next time you question your self-worth, I hope you remember my story and it reminds you that you matter, you are important and you are so loved. Show up to the world the way you are supposed to. There are people who need you.
I am a hope dealer and I love to inspire. I love to lift others up as well as show women that they matter, their voice matters and they are worthy of self-love and self-care in order to reach their full potential.
I am also a mom of 2 amazing kids, and a wife to an amazing husband who supports every part of my journey.
Tracy O'Neill
