LETTER 09-2024: Patent Youself from an Overbearing World

“…I have thousands of daughters. You are Black and White, Jewish, Muslim, Asian, Spanish speaking, Native Americans and Aleut. You are fat and thin and pretty and plain, gay and straight, educated and unlettered, and I am speaking to you all. Here is my offering to you....” (from 'Letter to My Daughter' by Maia Angelou)

"Do not let mercy and truth leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will find favor and good understanding, in the sight of God and people." ~ Proverbs 3:3-4

Dear Daughters,

We may have said this before, but it cannot be reinforced enough. The world you’re navigating is relentless. It’s full of messages, images, and voices that try to shape you into someone else. It whispers—and sometimes shouts—that there’s a “better” version of you out there. If only you worked harder, looked different, or followed the right trends, then you’d finally be enough.

We’ve lived long enough to know that these messages are lies. Those messages are not here to improve you or to serve you; they’re here to confuse you, to mold you into someone else’s idea of who you should be. The world is overbearing, obtrusive, and insistent, but here’s what we want you to hear today: you don’t have to let it define you. You have the power to patent yourself.

Think about what a patent does. It protects something unique, something original, so that no one can steal, alter, or take credit for its brilliance. That’s what you must do for yourself. You are an original—one of a kind. There is no other combination of experiences, gifts, and perspectives exactly like yours. And because of that, you must guard the essence of who you are fiercely.

This doesn’t mean you won’t evolve or grow; of course you will, and you should. But growing into the fullness of who you are is entirely different from contorting yourself to fit someone else’s mold. One is rooted in authenticity, while the other is born of fear and comparison.

Here’s something we’ve learned: the world will always try to show you a thousand versions of “better.” A better body. A better career. A better personality. It will encourage you to compare yourself to others, but the people you’re comparing yourself to often aren’t even real. They’re carefully crafted personas, edited and filtered to hide their struggles, doubts, and imperfections.

We know it can be tempting to chase after those illusions. But when you chase what’s false, you lose what’s true. You lose the unique voice, passion, and character that make you who you are. And here’s the truth: professionally and relationally, what people truly want—the ones worth working and living alongside—are not those false projections. They want you.

Your quirks, your strengths, even your struggles—they all create a tapestry that no one else can replicate. It’s not your perfection that inspires people; it’s your originality. It’s not your ability to blend in that makes you valuable; it’s your courage to stand out.

So, how do you patent yourself in this overbearing world? It begins with knowing who you are. Not who the world says you should be, but who you are at your core. Spend time listening to your inner voice, the one that’s often drowned out by the noise of others’ opinions. Pay attention to what sparks your joy, what ignites your passion, and what feels right deep in your soul.

• What did God spacifically build you to do
• What activities, actions, and behaviors are intrinsic to you.
• Where did you come from that makes you differently special.
• What dreams were born in you that you pushed aside.

Learn yourself, and then, protect her fiercely. Set boundaries. Say no to things that compromise your values or make you feel small. Surround yourself with people who see you, not for who they want you to be, but for who you are.

Know that you’re not alone in this journey. We’ve walked these roads before you, and we’ve faced the same temptations to lose ourselves in the world’s circus. But we’ve learned that the greatest success, the deepest relationships, and the most fulfilling life comes when you show up fully as yourself.

When the world gets loud, stand determined. When the world tries to shape you, remember your edges are yours to keep. The world may be overbearing, but you have the strength to stand firm.

Daughter, patent yourself. Protect the brilliance of who you are. Not only because the world needs it—but because you need you.

With all our love,

F50Woman

"Always be a first-rate version of yourself instead of a second-rate version of somebody else." ~ Julie Garland, Actress and Singer