Be available

 How can they find you if you’re not there?

I have found great value in simply becoming more available.

Availability is not always being there every single time somebody needs you. It is rather making yourself open to meeting new people and welcoming new information.

After spending so much time hiding, I realized that I wasn’t hiding from the pain or fear like I thought, I was hiding from opportunity.

I used to have the mindset that staying private would keep me from being hurt. I thought I could stay safe within my own mind and the small environment I had created for myself. But I soon realized that by staying within my own head all the time would not allow me to do 3 things that I really wanted.

Those 3 things are:

1. Influence people

2. Achieve my goals

3. Create fulfilling relationships

These 3 things are what brings me the most happiness. 

How could I ever influence people if I don’t let them see who I am?

How could I achieve my goals if I don’t take action?

How could I make good friends if I’m not there?

Everything that I needed to make me happy was impossible without making myself more available. 

It is terrifying to show yourself to the world.

Showing your true self is the equivalent of removing your armor and saying “Here I am! Take your best shot!”

So often, people hide behind the things that keep them comfortable. They hide from the reality of what they actually are. They put on a mask of the person they want to be and never truly allow people to see who they actually are.

And then they wonder why they aren’t happy.

Hiding yourself behind the person you think you are never truly allows you to realize the true happiness found in being yourself.

How can you find like minds if you don’t show what’s on yours?

This might be why my circle is so small.

I open up to the people who I know are like me. But only because I am able to see who they are. What if they were hiding and I couldn’t see them either? Then there would be no relationship.

You never know who shares your thoughts until you share them.

I have realized that by sharing my thoughts I am able to attract people who agree. These people become trusting, loyal followers and share their feedback. Having friendships like this allows you to sharpen your own skills. The people who think like you offer a new  perspective into the things you care about. Their perspective might significantly change how you feel, or give you a better understanding of the topic. 

Sometimes the pot is too small for the plant.

This is how I felt forever.

I couldn’t grow because I never got myself a bigger pot. This pot was the people that I opened up to. As soon as I started showing my true thoughts, I was able to grow. 

The thing that changed in my mind: leaving a legacy requires living out your purpose.

I wasn’t living out my purpose. It’s as simple as that.

If you want to discover new opportunities you have to make yourself available.

Don’t be afraid of what could happen, be afraid of what might not happen if you don’t.