Have you ever created something that you were really, truly proud of? Something where your essence came through in each and every part of it? Something that oozed YOU throughout it?
And what if – in addition to being super proud of yourself for creating this certain something – you knew that this creation could really, truly help others? What if you had given your heart and soul to it because you believed that someone else’s heart and soul would benefit greatly from it?
Have you ever felt this?
I’m guessing that you have. I’m guessing that we all have.
What happened after you created it? Most likely, you wanted to share it with others. You wanted to share it with the world. Your enthusiasm about your creation was almost palpable – this NEEDED to be seen and shared and loved. Its only purpose in life was to help others and add love to the world.
And you KNEW that!
And in a perfect world, you would climb up on your rooftop and shout it to anyone who would listen: “I created this wonderful something, and everyone needs to know about it!”
But we don’t do that, do we? Because this world that we live in isn’t exactly perfect (well, actually it is, but we don’t always see it that way – right? This is definitely a topic for another day…). Anyway – somewhere along the way while we were busy being human and navigating our way through this world, we learned a few things:
- Bragging is bad.
- Pride is a sin.
- Confidence means arrogance.
- Self promotion is an absolute no-no.
- Making money off of products that are meant to help others is just not right.
Yikes. Well, I guess we won’t be telling the world about our super amazing creation then, will we?
We know too well how it feels to be chastised for sharing our creation that we felt so excited about and proud of. It feels horrible. Because there is that unspoken (and sometimes even spoken) rule that it isn’t right to share, brag, or promote our own work. But even more than that: there is the unspoken rule that it is sleazy to do this. Yuck.
And with learning that and feeling that and really taking that in for many, many years from childhood to adulthood, we stopped sharing. And we even started playing the game of chastising ourselves when we tried to step out of this belief system and share and be proud and promote. And our ego – that part of us who tries so hard to protect us and keep us safe – seemed to always step in and ask:
- “Who do you think you are?”
- “Your ego is way too big.”
- “You need to be put in your place.”
You may have said these things out loud, but even if you haven’t – somewhere deep inside you, I would argue that these thoughts are floating around.
What’s funny is that you can support others and promote others and share everyone else’s creations until the cows come home and you’re blue in the face (and any other cliches you can think of), but you just can’t seem to be able to do the same for yourself.
So how do we get out of this sleazy spiral of not feeling good about self promotion that just makes everyone feel like crap?
- We consciously choose to break through it.
- We realize that we are deserving of praise – from ourselves and from others.
- We honor our creativity and pat ourselves on the back for having the guts to put something out into the world.
- We take baby steps towards releasing our own creations into the world. And we slowly begin to share them with the world.
We can break this cycle. We can turn it all around. We really can.
All it takes is choosing to no longer be bound by our ego. To no longer be okay with playing small because it’s safe and comfortable. To want to stretch and soar. To want to shine. It all starts with one single choice.
Are you ready to make that choice? Are you ready to let go of these limiting beliefs that have kept you from soaring?
I sure am. They certainly aren’t serving me, and I would venture to guess that they aren’t serving you either.
So, what I would LOVE for each of us to do is use this forum to share what we are proud to have put into the world!
- Do you have a project that you’re working on?
- Are you proud of a book that you wrote?
- Would you like us to check out your website?
- Have you just launched an ecourse that you want people to take?
- Do you offer coaching sessions that you know would help others?
Use this space to share your creations with each of us! Be proud of yourself for both creating it and also being brave enough to share it!
And if you don’t have a creation yet, you can share what you would like to create!
I’ll start, and then please comment below and share your creations!
I’m super proud of my Coming Back to Life Ecourse! I have poured my heart and soul into this, and it’s something that I’m so excited to share with each of you! Over 30 soulful friends have also shared their hearts with you, and I’m just beyond thrilled at the healing and love that are offered inside it. It’s for anyone who is ready to plug back into life and could use a support system and tools to help them do exactly that.
Registration is now open, and I would love for you to join us! It starts on 10/1, and if you register now, you’ll receive $20 off + an inspirational notebook and notepad (first 25 only!) + over $150 in bonus gifts!
Click here to learn all about it and register!
You can also join the affiliate program and make money while promoting a wonderful course!
I’m offering a 50% commission + a contest where cash prizes are awarded to the top 3 people! Yay!
Okay, now it’s your turn. What are you excited to share/promote/tell us all about?
Please share this post on Facebook and Twitter. Help me spread this message that promoting ourselves is a beautiful thing – something that we are all ready to embrace!
Jodi,
I’m proud of my ability to help other bloggers. If you would like some fresh ideas click here: http://www.thebridgemaker.com/5-fresh-ideas-for-your-blog/
Thank you so much for bringing up this important topic, Jodi. I am definitely not one who is comfortable with self-promotion, but absolutely LOVE to promote others. 🙂 This post really spoke to me.
Thank you for the invitation to share our creations here. I offer healing and guidance for creative and sensitive souls who are going through life transitions, through 1-on-1 sessions, writing, and speaking. My website is http://aliaindrawan.com.
I am proud that I have created two in-person crystal healing trainings from scratch and the students love them! I have taken the best of all of my trainings and put them together into a class that resonates me! Love it!!!!
I am proud of my very first ecourse which starts next week, 22 Paths to Wholeness :: wisdom from the tarot. I have been working so hard on it and poured my heart into it, so excited to release my baby into the world. If you’d like to have a look-see, here’s the course page: https://ruzuku.com/courses/783/signup
CONGRATS on you upcoming ecourse Jodi – looks awesome.
Yay to supporting each other and savoring our success.
I have precisely this um….hangup, Jodi. Couldn’t have described it better myself 🙂 My website is at http://www.vidyasury.com – and I am happy that I’ve been a prolific blogger from 2003. As funny as this sounds, when I go back and read old posts, I feel a good sense of pride.
Self promotion is my bete noire. And yes, I can promote others until the cows, sheep, goats and every last animal comes home!
I am working on a book called “The Complete Health Guide for Women” My first draft is ready and I am hoping to finish it by the end of this year. 🙂
Hugs to you. Always touch my heart.
Love, Vidya
It’s so true Jodi, we don’t acknowledge ourselves nearly enough, always moving on to the next thing, without being able to say, wow, look how far I’ve come. And as for letting other people know, well that’s totally off limits for many.
I’m so happy to see the response to you asking if we’re brave enough to share our creations…it’s great to read about them.
I’m truly happy that I started a blog to encourage and help everyone see how they can create their best life ever. It’s fun and totally rewarding: http://www.reflectingalife.com.
Love Elle
xoxo
Jodi, I am battling this very thing with the release of my first novel, Cosette’s Tribe. I was brought up to believe that it was NOT alright to pat yourself on the back or promote yourself in any way.
I love my novel. It holds within its pages so much healing and light. I’m getting better at silencing fear and shame and I’m learning to boldly stand in the light I’ve been honored to create.
The reviews on my book have been thrilling. I’m open to great things for Cosette! http://www.leahgriffith.com
I’m also very proud of you and the hard work you have done to put together an amazing e-course. I’m sure it has wings and will soon take flight.
Thank you for this opportunity to embrace my own art and shamelessly brag about it.
Much Love,
Leah
I am so shy about posting my blog that I created one, but haven’t sent it to ANYONE!
So you are my first “share”.
I have found profound “therapy” from riding a motorcycle….and would love to help others do the same.
http://www.tammypery.ca
Wow — This article is so true!!! I design jewelry and I’m having such a hard time promoting it…..mostly because I’m another one that is not comfortable talking about myself, or being the center of attention, which I’m working on getting over! Jodi, thanks for the opportunity to share my artistic ability with others. Please check out my website and let me know what you think.
Susan
I am joyful that I have written 5-Star Citizen, the basis for the beginning of many conversations between adults and children about what it means to be a citizen of the United States of America. It is a helpful book X 2 in that it is a framework for those essential-to-our-constitutional-republic’s-survival- conversations and it is also a fundraising instrument for those we US citizens owe the most for our freedom and lifestyle. You can take a look or click on links at http://www.ProceedForOthers.com. You can also see inside the interactive book on Amazon.
Thank-you Jodi for providing this space. What a lovely idea to invite people to share the gifts they have to offer!
I am thrilled about running my Painting With Your Muse e-course for a second time, coming September 22nd. It is a 5 week intuitive painting e-course using creative exploration through expressive arts, guided imagery meditations and a community of muses. I am very excited about it because it basically allows me to share (in an extended way) what I do in my expressive arts therapy workshops here in Toronto, with others to far to attend my workshop. If you would like more information about my e-course please check it out: http://www.arttherapist.ca/ecourses/painting-with-your-muse-online-course/
Congratulations on launching your e-course Jodi!
Wow Jodi. What a great idea. My latest project, which I’m super proud of is an e-book I was inspired to write, on How to Find Your Purpose. I made it available for free, so as many people as possible can benefit.
You know, in that case, I was so inspired that it didn’t even occur to me not to share it. Thanks for making me aware of that. I used to get so nervous before putting something like that out there, but this time I didn’t hesitate.
I’m working on my first real course now, and I’m sure that I’ll be super nervous before publishing that. But I’m going to do it anyway. Yay!
Happy shiny puppy hugs!
Melody
I absolutely love this blog posting 🙂 I would like to share an article I wrote called “Why You Can’t Get What You Want”.
http://www.helium.com/knowledge/2338-why-you-cant-get-what-you-want
Wow! I’m so inspired by all the wonderfully creative people here–and by the bravery it takes to share their creations and themselves!
My current project falls into the “work-in-progress” category, but I’ll share it anyway: an ecourse called “The Magic Formula,” about how to get what you want and love what you’ve got–whether it’s manifesting more happiness, finishing a creative project, sharing it with the world, or anything else that brings you more joy and makes you feel more fully alive! (Spoiler alert: the formula is Gratitude + Vision + Action.)
You can sign up for my blog to get updates + all the details when the course is released.
Thank you, Jodi, for this wonderful opportunity to share our creative work with one another. I love you so much, and I’m so proud of you for the wonderful work you’re doing–including your awesome ecourse, which I’m so excited about!
Love all around. 🙂
LOVE your site Jodi.
I’m a psychotherapist & mama to 2 lively girls. I blog about how to heal from a difficult birth experience; natural birth; the healing power of breastfeeding and the challenges of trying to be super mama (!) at http://www.empoweredwombyn.weebly.com
For and ‘Wild and Carefree Mama’s’ out there, {wild daughters too!} I have a blog that is relatively new, that I have been ‘pouring my heart into’ in the hopes that it will inspire all of us to live a Wild Carefree Life……. I would love it if you would come by and take a look at it…… I am not selling anything, just hoping to give back some of the love and inspiration that I’ve been given ♥♥♥ Hope to see you there ♥♥♥
Thank you so much for sharing Jodi. I found this very thought provoking and really hit home with me as I find promoting myself quite difficult. Although I am only in baby form with my blogging and sales.
Again thank you x
When I stopped being afraid to embrace my gifts … when I said “yes” to moving forward on a spiritual path (even though I had no idea what would happen next) … when I took a deep breath and jumped in … everything changed for me! I’ve created many things (and have no intention of stopping), but one thing I’m most proud of is my work as a spiritual teacher. If you head over to http://www.fogcitypsychic.com, you can pick up a free audio I created that’s designed to help you jumpstart your daily spiritual practice. My intention for this project is that it will help other people begin to embrace their gifts … to take a deep breath and jump in to a more loving, more centered way of Being.
What an inspired and generous idea! I thought I’d offer the link to my blog, as it’s where I publicly share some of my deepest thoughts and experiences …it’s where I share my artwork and poetry, my insights and frustrations, and where I’ll share my soon-to-be self-published book. It’s http://www.thesoulstudio.co.uk and it’s primarily focused on soul-full living.
🙂
Self promotion is an essential part of marketing when you’re an author, and especially if you self-publish. Even though I have a long background in the marketing and promotions industry, my culture and gender whispers ‘don’t brag’. I find if I use self promotion as a way to connect with people and remember that sharing is something that must go both ways (otherwise it’s just shoving), then I can feel good about being proud to share my work.
You do a wonderful job of self promotion Jodi, because you seem to understand the fundamental need for it to be a communication.
Best wishes for your e-course, I’m sure it will be of great value to the participants.