Hello !

I hope you’re having a great week!

In my last newsletter, I wrote about flying under the radar.  I was prompted to write that article because so many of the clients I have worked with over the years, have hidden their gifts, stood in the shadows, and held themselves back.  In the past, I did this as well.  It was the way I kept myself "safe" from the pain that often goes along with being on the receiving end of judgment and criticism. 

One of the problems with staying in the shadows is that when we keep ourselves and our gifts hidden, we lose confidence in ourselves.  We start believing that we don't really have any gifts and that we have nothing to offer that is of value. We can start to think that other people are smarter, more clever and more valuable than we are.  It's a painful place to be. 

It can be difficult to see our own value and the gifts we possess.  This is especially true, if we have been living in the shadows for a long time.  Sometimes, the reason we hide ourselves away can be traced back to conditioning we received sometime in the past.  When I was a child, I remember hearing the phrase "children should be seen and not heard".  "Keep the noise down to a dull roar", was another thing I sometimes heard my parents say.  Teachers, managers, and other authority figures also have an influence on how we show up in the world. Maybe you recall some of the ways you were conditioned to stay small.   

Sometimes, the criticism is self-imposed.  We all have negative thoughts about ourselves from time to time.  No one gets through life without experiencing some nasty self-criticism.  Those negative messages can be the most stubborn ones to get past.  If it weren't for the leaders, therapists and professional coaches who helped me see past my negative beliefs, I would still be hiding my gifts and myself from the world. 

Here are three ways some of my clients and myself have hidden in the shadows:

• Not sharing their ideas at work and/or in their personal life
• Not going after a promotion at work
• Staying in a dead-end job that uses only a fraction of their talents and abilities

If you recognize yourself in any of the above examples and this newsletter resonates with you, maybe it's time for you to step out of the shadow.  If you would like some support to help you identify your gifts and begin to shine your light, I would be happy to have a confidential conversation with you.  All you have to do is reply to this newsletter and ask to set up a phone call with me.  One of my gifts is the ability to listen to and help others to make sense of whatever is going on in their lives. I help my clients to rediscover their gifts and set aside negative beliefs. From there we can explore ways to resolve whatever is holding you back so you can begin sharing your light. 

I look forward to talking with you soon. 

With Loving Support,

Linda