Belle the Creative

The start of the New Year is often marked by ideas, strategies, and resolutions, new and old.  New battles to win, new conquests to pursue, things we wish we did differently,  and things we wish we never did at all.

And sometimes, the best resolutions are the simplest ones. For me,  the biggest thing that’s been impressed in my heart is this: the best thing you can do for your career or business is to  know yourself and stay true to who you are. 

Following popular trends and allowing what others are doing to sway you or cloud your vision is a lot like going to battle in someone else’s oversized armour. You can’t slay giants when you’re not dressed for the part. You have everything it takes to make it. Your personality is good enough, your ideas are valid, your skills are precious, and your unique life experience is a phenomenal gift to the universe.

I’ve launched projects in the past – only to realize with frustration later on that they barely captured the essence of who I was. So I’m showing up this year, not as a career coach, creative strategist, writer, or public speaker, but as every wonderful thing that defines who I am.  I am showing up as myself, no stunts, no gimmicks.

Truthfully speaking, what often holds us back isn’t a lack of ability, resources, or opportunity. It’s the quiet doubt that creeps in when we start measuring our journey against someone else’s highlight reel. We second-guess our instincts, dilute our voice, and abandon what feels natural in pursuit of what we imagine to be more successful,  more glamorous, more powerful.

But growth that isn’t aligned with who  you are will always feel empty. A job or business that requires you to constantly perform, pretend, or squeeze yourself into a tight mould will eventually wear you out. There’s a huge difference between learning from others and losing yourself in the process.  Staying true to who you are means building a career or business that fits your life – not forcing your life to bend around someone else’s blueprint.

This year doesn’t need flashy goals on neon signs or more aggressive, reality-show-worthy strategies. It needs clarity and honesty. It’s time to bring out those dreams you buried, dust them off, and finally give them the attention they need to thrive — fully, boldly, and unapologetically.
Maybe,  just maybe, that might be the biggest flex of all.