What Costume Are You Wearing?

In Australia there is a tradition called “Book Week”, and for the younger population, they get to “dress up” as their favourite book character.

So, as my youngest daughter was trying on different outfits to decide on the costume she would be wearing, coincidentally my eldest daughter called me that same morning to let me know she had a new outfit for work and was commenting on how it made her feel more confident.

It got me thinking about costumes.?

What I said to my eldest was that it made total sense because we don’t dress for other people. We dress for ourselves because when we believe we look good or look the part then we feel good about how we show up and who we want to be.

I started to think about all the different costumes I had been wearing over the years.

After the last decade of spending time/money developing myself (rather than my profession!) I recognised the different costumes were like an experiment.

I mean, who doesn’t love dressing up??

But it gets to a stage where the costumes become heavy and the changing of them becomes draining.

I know over the years I’ve experimented with a number of costumes.

It was in my RELATIONSHIPS that my costume felt heaviest first.

Wearing the costume of the type of wife I thought my ex-husband expected.?Expecting him to wear the costume I expected a husband to be.?Neither fit well on us at all and ultimately ended our relationship.

I changed costumes a few times before I found the one that fit me and my relationship best.

In my HEALTH, I’ve tried the excelling exerciser – jogging, PT, every day…. in preparation for my wedding (the second time!).?I’ve also tried the exceptional eater only eating healthy and vegetarian.?But neither was sustainable.

The one that seems to be working for me today is the moderate mover, exercising and eating moderately enough that I feel good, healthy and able to enjoy my life.

For my WEALTH, I wore the corporate armour for many years till I stood on top of Mt Kilimanjaro and shed it (another story!)

In fact, I spoke to a former colleague who summed this up beautifully with a story of another colleague with whom she had attended a female development program.?This particular woman was the only woman (other than the receptionist) in a manufacturing plant that employed over 400 people all of whom were men – and she was the boss.?So every day she would turn up to work in a buttoned-up shirt and pants with her hair severely pulled back, to the point where she had even added extra buttons to her shirt!?And that was the way she presented on the first day of the program but by the end of the program, she was in a sundress with her hair out and commented how much lighter and herself she felt.

I am happy to say that I am now wearing the coach costume which fits perfectly!?It also gives me the gift of experiencing joy in guiding other women to create their own “costume” transformations.

The fact is we all wear metaphorical costumes.?We probably wouldn’t walk out in the street naked, right??

I believe some covering is necessary and healthy (like the example with my eldest daughter); the ones that feel like a second skin and allow us to be and act the way we truly want, that fit and work the best!

What costumes are you wearing??Are they weighing you down??Or are they like a second skin that makes you feel light and free?

Remember, you can unleash your unique version of success!

Your Coach,

Stephanie