Do you ever dim your light so those around you won’t feel threatened?  Do you ever make “less” of booking a job or doing something fabulous so you don’t shine too brightly or seem boastful?  I have.

Maybe it’s a “nice-girl-from-the-midwest” thing, but it never leaves anyone feeling good…not me, not them.  Once I realized that “dimming my light” was not helping anyone else shine brighter or feel better, I realized it was just a learned behavior that I could undo.  And I did!

Imagine living from a place of knowing:

As Marianne Williamson says, “Your playing small does not serve the world.”

Here are 5 ways to let your light to shine brightly.

1) Stop belittling your accomplishments.

If you find yourself saying “It’s just a callback, it’s just a commercial, it’s just a co-star, I only have 5 lines, it’s just a guest star, It’s only one day” etc. etc, you are not allowing your best self to shine through.  When you celebrate every little victory along the way + don’t make less of them, they will multiply.  When you give yourself permission to shine brightly on the seemingly “small stuff,” you are lit up so the bigger stuff can find its way to you.

2) Say thank you + nothing else.

When you get a compliment, simply say thank you…or “that’s so nice of you to notice, thatnks.”  When you say thank you + then begin a whole monologue on how it’s really not that great, it’s like returning a gift to the giver.  Receive it, say thank you + feel what that feels like to not explain yourself out of it.  This also applies to clothes.  I’m not sure why we women like to deflect a compliment by saying, “Thanks, it was only 20 bucks.”  As much fun as it is to find a sale, try omitting the super cheap deal you got as a part of your thank you.  Simply say….thank you + nothing else.

3) Wear your favorite clothes.

You don’t have to go out in a ball gown or a tux, but how about dressing your best?  It will change the way you feel, alter how you walk imto a room + even shift how people respond to you.  I used to run into a casting director every time I went to the bank, and it was then that I realized, we are auditioning all the time, just by being out in the world.  As an actor, it’s our job to look great, so go out ready for Us Magazine to put you on the “They’re Just Like Us” page without you being mortified.  In fact, try go shopping with the “I’m going to shine my light brightly” mentality + watch how it changes what you buy.

4) Make yourself a priority.

It’s easy to get caught up in giving to others and to feel selfish if we say no.    For some people, it feels uncomfortable to receive (even a compliment).  But  giving and receiving are two sides of the same coin.  When you learn to give to yourself first, you can be a brighter light to those around you.  Doing this will put you in a better mindset + keep you in your flow.  In fact, I’ve found this to absolutely the case in parenting.  I teach my kids that when mommy takes an hour for herself in the morning to do her Cardio Barre workout, I can give to them the whole day.  Now, they say, “hey mommy, are we going to your dance class?”  Yes, we are, and I definitely come out shining a little bit brighter afterwards on all levels!

5) Let go of the voice that holds you back.

We all have a little voice inside us at different times that wants to keep us safe.  This voice will say: “don’t do it, it’s too much, you can’t, you’re not worthy, you don’t deserve it, don’t be too loud, bold, aggressive, don’t be too bright, don’t be too fabulous.”  Those thoughts are all based in fear.  When you shift your mindset to come from a place of love + light within you, these thoughts melt away + soften.  Turn up the volume on the loving voice within you + you will instantly shine brighter on the outside as well.

Marianne Williamson’s popular quote speaks to this:

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, ‘Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?’  Actually, who are you not to be?  You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

You owe it to yourself + others to shine your light brightly.  After all, you can’t dim yourself enough to make others around you feel better, so you might as well turn it up all the way!

Love + Gratitude.

 P.S  I also love Katy Perry’s FIREWORK lyrics.  Get this song on your playlist as a nice reminder to shine brightly.

You don’t have to feel like a waste of space.
You’re original. Cannot be replaced

If you only knew what the future holds,
After a hurricane comes a rainbow.

Maybe the reason why all the doors are closed
So you could open one that leads you to the perfect road

Like a lightning bolt, your heart will glow
And when it’s time you know you just gotta

Ignite the light and let it shine
Just own the night like the Fourth of July.

‘Cause baby, you’re a firework. come on show them what you’re worth
Make them go, “Oh, oh, oh” as you shoot across the sky

Baby, you’re a firework, come on let your colors burst
Make them go, “Oh, oh, oh,” you’re gonna leave them all in awe

Boom, boom, boom  Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon
It’s always been inside of you, you, you and now it’s time to let it through.

Shine brightly + become a magnet for success!

Thanks for sharing this content + spreading the love…