Celebrating in Natural Alignment

Why are we always so uncomfortable when the spotlight is on us? I mean the good spotlight too like our friends throwing us a surprise party or getting a big promotion at work. Those times when it truly is all about us and everyone is happy for us, giving us applause and gifts. Most of us are incredibly uncomfortable with that attention. We downplay the experience as being too much, unnecessary or even not about us but about our team.

Being honored and celebrated is an incredible recognition. It is also one of the most vulnerable moments we will ever experience. It feels good to receive and yet we’re bashful about it. It’s awkward and we’d rather be giving than have this uncomfortable vulnerability that someone else feels we are deserving, special and worthy of praise, celebration and loving attention. Why is it we are more comfortable giving than receiving? We would rather give the spotlight, gifts, recognition and praise to someone else publicly even though inside we know we deserve it. We earned it. We worked hard for it and yet we hold that part back from what we show others.

It’s very challenging for most women, including me to admit our age. We love our birthday because well it’s a day all about us. Yet when it comes to birthday celebrations where everyone celebrates it with us with gifts and attention we all of a sudden downplay it. We tell our friends they shouldn’t have bought us a gift or made such a fuss. We love it and yet we don’t because we’re uncomfortable in how to receive their love in this way. We feel exposed and vulnerable in this very beautiful moment. I love receiving gifts. It’s wonderful to get a surprise but I too suffer from what to feel inside and out when the attention and receipt of these things is in front of others.

Part of living more naturally and in alignment with who we are is coming to terms with how to give as well as receive. To remove the awkward vulnerability we experience when the spotlight is on us and instead embrace it. It is knowing and being comfortable with how we are perceived in these moments. Letting these moments be vulnerable and enjoying that experience of showing that side of us. It is of letting people love, lift up and shower us with their support openly and in recognition of us being who we are, where we are and what we have done.

The beautiful moment when we are being celebrated is when we let our emotions out in appreciation for our own accomplishments, milestones and achievements and let that radiate throughout those around us. We take our own energy of what is happening in our lives and share it. We let others experience what this feels like emotionally in joy, excitement, tears and more of what it feels like to be at this milestone, accomplishment, top of the mountain and more! The people around us in those moments are our best supporters who have been with us along that journey. They have watched us grow, transform, emerge, struggle, stumble and want to give up. We didn’t though and we’re here celebrating it so why not share with them the outcome of what it feels like inside?

I believe the more we stop downplaying the vulnerability with receiving the more we let who we truly are out. We lead by example. We inspire, motivate, strengthen and uplift others who are on their own journey. We show them it’s possible. We give them hope and we share a happiness most of us don’t get enough of in life. It doesn’t mean we are not humble or unappreciative or a spotlight hog either. It means we are comfortable with who we are and we recognize inside out what has been achieved, what is about to begin in our lives and where we have come. It is basking in the spotlight of attention and lovingly receiving recognition from others who are there celebrating that win, victory, milestone with us.