I was listening to a talk tonight when someone said, “who are you when you aren’t believing something is wrong with you?” And…Damn…That’s all. ~Cleo Wade
Whoa! When I read this quote by Cleo Wade, I felt like I’d been hit by a sharp draft that cuts right to the bone, piercing through any of those “I’m fine, really!” layers and reaching straight to the core. You know the feeling, right? That question stayed with me, whispering its way into all the moments where I’ve bent myself like a paperclip to fit into boxes that were clearly marked “not for me.”
I remember one time, years ago, being in a room filled with professionals at a networking event. There I was, in my carefully picked blazer, holding a wine glass a little too tightly, and all the while convincing myself that I could be just like them: polished, quiet, and neat. I’d walk around, smiling at strangers, having these surface-level conversations where I pretended to be fascinated by topics I cared nothing about. The whole time, though, I was suffocating under this image I’d decided I needed to project. I wanted to be seen as “put-together” and “proper” because I thought that was the ticket to belonging.
But deep down, I knew this wasn’t me. My real self was more colorful and raw—less interested in blending in and more curious about the deeper connections. The kind of conversations that feel like sharing a heartbeat, like when you look someone in the eye and let them see every beautifully flawed part of you. But there I was, showing up as this shadow of myself, because I was so afraid that just being “me” wasn’t enough. Worse, I believed that being “me” was something that actually needed fixing.
It took me a long time to realize that the only thing needing fixing was my belief that I had to be anything other than who I am. And when that belief started to crack, something extraordinary happened—I started showing up fully, unapologetically,and without feeling like I had to contort myself into any “should” or “must.”
When I let go of believing something was wrong with me, I began connecting with people in ways that made my heart expand. I no longer needed approval from others, and that’s when I truly started to belong—not to some version of me that fit in neatly, but to the person I actually am. The one who shows up, warts and all, because that’s real, that’s alive, and that’s enough.
So, who are you when you aren’t believing something’s wrong with you? It’s a big question, one that might unravel some of the old narratives you’ve clung to for far too long. And maybe, just maybe, it’ll remind you that you are already whole. You’re exactly enough, just as you are.
Love and Light,
Michele
If you’re ready to shift your perspective and open your heart to what’s possible, let’s talk. Schedule a free consultation with me, and together we can start creating the life you truly deserve.