Living you life “on purpose”….
By
I was never a very confident individual. I have spent most of my life dealing with a massive fear of rejection, which has prevented me from truly putting myself “out there” in the past.
That is obviously not the case anymore. Don’t get me wrong, I still have demons. I’m not 100% self confident, 100% of the time… far from it.
But I think that when we start living our life “on purpose”…. in other words… doing what we know in our hearts we were put on this earth to do… confidence just springs up naturally. And I think that is because we are finally (and maybe for the first time in our lives) actually being honest with ourselves… about what really matters to us…. and honest with the world.
“I am a photographer!!!!”
For decades I never had the courage to say those words even to myself, let alone out loud to the world. I tried being so many other things…. things that were easier in a way….. things that were definitely safer. Things that I was good at, and earned a living from. But things that weren’t who I was at the very core of my being.
Once I had the courage to be who I really am…. confidence happened. Not a great deal at first. But it grows. It blossoms. It allows you to become who you know in your heart, you have actually been all along. And it allows you to finally show that person to the rest of the world as well.
And it’s a beautiful thing.
59 Comments
You are a blooming success. Jay
Thanks so much Jay xxoo
TL……….YES, you are!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!shalom en theos†††††jim
Thank Jim
YOU ARE A PHOTOGRAPHER!
Your photographs are astounding!
Thanks Julie…. I just hope that others find the courage to go after their life’s purpose as well.
I so understand – I want to write for a living and I see myself as a writer but not much money in that – gonna have to go back to work soon at the university as soon as Son is out of his spinal brace – but I just wanna write!!!!
Then ask yourself this… “has anyone ever made a good living from writing… are people right now making money from writing?” And if the answer is yes… then you can do it too!!!
Okay!!!!
You are much more than a photographer … you are intuned with your soul and you have the ability with words and thoughts that have/ and will help many people. Your early suffering has made you the perfect sage. thank you so much for sharing not only your beautiful pics but your wonderful wisdom. Tom
What an amazing comment… thank you so much Tom… xxoo
And beautiful too…
You are so sweet xxoo
I saw your picture behind the camera
Ok… this is for me, right… for me to stand up and say… I AM AN ARTIST……. after our may e-mails today…
WE ARE who we SAY WE ARE… hugs and love Friend…
You ARE an artist Deb… always have been!!!!
I sm happy you found the confident ce to share you beautiful talent. This is an amazing photo.
That’s very sweet…. thank you
Amazing picture and amazing reflections (both in your picture and your post)!
Very much appreciated… thank you so much
YIPPIE!!! YOU ARE A P H O T O G R A P H E R!!! And a damned great one! Welcome Tracie the photographer…nice to meet you (again for the first time!)
I am a photographer Rhonda… and what are you??? You can be anything your heart desires.
Keep sharing! You are the real deal!
Thank you so very much
Tracie .. all life’s has a purpose – and then there it’s up us to make something out of it or be happy without for-filling dreams. i suppose that we all have made dreams come true sometime during our life – more then others. Confidence is something that goes on us as we develop through life – and the more we success the stronger the confidence grows. We see that we are able to do things that we where unsure of – like your choice of profession – but not all of us have a driving force inside us and I think it has to do with our up-bringing to do. If your parents have us trust and freedom under responsibility. I could be totally wrong here, but I believe strongly that’s the reasons why I where able to get a life as I did. I think you have been incredible through your journey and you’re no happy and through your happiness you’re getting more strong and more determent, Love your posts and photos. Excellent writer too. .
I 100% absolutely believe that EVERYONE can fulfil their dreams and life’s purpose. You wouldn’t have the desire, if you didn’t already have the means somewhere inside of you. I only wish that I had come to this realisation decades ago. I thank you for your wonderful comment (as always) xxoo
Beautiful shot and awesome post! Sometimes, I just tell myself, “What other people think of me is none of my business.” The ones who get it will get it and the ones who don’t won’t. That will always be the case, anyway.
I could not agree more… and that is one of my favourite sayings as well. But I did not learn to say those words for others…. I did it for myself. When I first started to speak them out loud, I never got a bad reaction. I never had anyone question me as to whether or not it was true. But I did…. at first. I felt like I was kidding myself, or just pretending, or something. I needed to say it, and say it, and say it out loud, until I convinced myself that it was real, and that it was true, and that I was doing what I had always longed to do, and that this time it was real and it was not going anywhere. Thanks so much Jennifer xxoo
I am? Is very difficult but, it is a necessary avenue for, I am!
Congratulations, as you can say, I am! You have arrived in sync with perfection, and a challenge to perfect that perfection with each new picture.
You are, indeed, a professional photographer, and it is really beautiful because, you can, and should say it just as you do, with perfect confidence!
Go ahead, and allow yourself a few tears of joy over a job well done. It wasn’t,, and isn’t easy.
It’s so interesting because whenever I write a post like this, it is only to use my own experience as an example. I am not looking for validation..(not anymore anyway)… I am hoping to encourage others to finish their own “I am….” sentence.
Try as I might not to feel regret for the wasted decades, it still bothers me, and I think my motivations for doing what I do, is much more than just taking great pics.. it’s encouraging others not to wait, not to wonder and not to put off being who they know they can be.
Thanks as always Dave… YOU ROCK!!!
I love your message and can totally relate! Thank you for sharing your wisdom!
Thank you so much for you kind comment
I started following your blog because of your photography. Then I watched as you transitioned to what, to me, seems more like an inspirational blog. I can’t decide which one I prefer. Thank you for giving us a glimpse into an exceptional woman!
I only started blogging to get my photo’s “out there”, but I never wanted it to be just a photo blog…. I think that deep down inside, I have always had a voice… and if my images help me to speak my voice then that is just great also.. thanks so much for all your continued support… it is so very much appreciated. xxoo
Beautiful Post, message and photo alike = ). I can really relate to this post as I have quite a long lacked/still do lack some confidence.
I am starting to realise that everyone on the planet has self esteem issues of one kind or another… some just hide it better.. some overcompensate.. but I think we all struggle with it to some extent. The trick is to not let it beat us or stop us from doing what we want.
I know the feeling. I remember the first time I called myself a writer. It freaked me out and scared me. I kept waiting for something to fall from the sky and hit me. But I am a writer and the more I speak from my core the more I love my writing.
You’re an excellent photographer. Keep up the great work.
The words used to catch in my throat and it was as if I was waiting for someone to catch me out as a fraud. But the more I said it and the more I insisted on seeing myself that way, the easier it got. Thanks so much Brenda
Well I not that far Tracie…I wish I was! still figuring out what exactly I am. I also know the confident-part…I’ve grown so much in the last few year, but I’m not there yet!! It’s so great to hear you say you are a photographer because you ARE and a very good one too!!!! Don’t you ever doubt that. with love Joanna xoxo
You are so creative Joanna and have such a good heart, when you decide on what you are, I just know you will be awesome at it. xxoo
aaaw thanks Tracie that is so sweet to say… but I am confident enough to know that I will find out sooner or later…. xoxo
I love your photos. They come from one with real perception to see the scene – and what it means
Thanks so much… I have always been blessed (or cursed… depending on who you ask), with the need to find the deeper meaning in everything. I know hubby gets frustrated with me for that… but it’s who I am.
Tracie, would never have guessed this of you…your photos evoke such grace, drawing on inner strength and beauty, perhaps adding to your supply as you rack up the experience? Wonderful work, I adore all you musings
What a wonderful thing to say… thank you Roxie. Your comment is so much appreciated ♥
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Beautiful shot, and beautiful story. That is exactly how it happened with me. I was halfway through my first story when I realized that’s what I wanted to be when I grew up..
That’s so awesome… good for you
Thank you for reaching out to us who hide what we love do. I am not brave enough to say I am a photographer. I am many things. I have done many things. But, I know that the connection I feel toward people I find through photography brings me chills.. I like best my street photography. I like the history I see in those pictures. I am awed by the uniqueness I find in the strangers that i get to know through their photos.. I have a few fans, mostly my family. I generally am afraid to share my photos.
Please don’t be afraid to share your gift. What are you afraid of? The only person who’s opinion ever matters is your own, and it sounds like you are very pleased with what you do… therefore there is NOTHING to be afraid of. And I guarantee you… if you like your photography, there will be others that like it also. xxoo
Thank you, Tracie. Your photos are beautiful. I look forward to following your blog. Will check in on you from time to time.
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I love that Webster defines confidence as “appreciating one’s own abilities or qualities”! Because, for me, appreciating means a host of wonderful things like loving, caring for, feeling gratitude for, enjoying, noticing, paying attention to, and so forth. To behave that way toward oneself… of course that’s the key to confidence. And the way to heal the lack of it. At least, as an artist, it has been healing for me to consider this approach to myself and my work.
Love your work Tracie Louise. It’s gorgeous and evocative. Thanks for stopping by my blog!
I just love the way that you explained appreciating oneself. I hadn’t quite looked at it that way.. but it’s a wonderful approach. I think so many more people could heal their lack of self confidence by employing those ideas. Thank you so much for sharing your insights xxoo
And thank you for your wonderful presence on this Blog. I’ll be listening in from time to time.
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very true! many artists have this problem of not believing in themselves. whats most important i think is to find what you love doing, get good at it and do it every day. hopefully i can’ get back into painting each day, your post has certainly inspired me.
I am so thrilled that I have inspired you. To me, any day that I get to take new pics is a wonderful day… and any day that I get to share them with others is pure magic.