JK Rowling wrote her books.

Oprah created her television shows.

Lady Gaga wore her crazy outfit again.

Sure, that’s easy – you might say.

They have millions of raving fans.

They have nothing to worry about.

But the thing is – it’s as hard for them as it is for us.

They’ve had their share of naysayers + people not liking what they did.

They have their share of naysayers + people not liking what they do – right now.

The truth is –

if they wouldn’t have been willing to upset some,

they wouldn’t have been able to delight so many others.

The books wouldn’t have been written.

The television shows wouldn’t have aired.

The artist wouldn’t have been born.

The truth is – some people will not like what we do.

Some people will not approve of what we say.

Some people will judge who we are.

And that leaves us with a daily choice.

To live out their expectations. Or to do our thing.

To silence our voice. Or to speak up.

To be someone we are not. Or to be who we are.

That choice is ours.

Any moment of any day.

Time and again.

The truth is –

if we aren’t willing to upset some,

we will never be able to delight so many others.

Who are you willing to upset?

***

If we aren’t willing to upset some, we will never be able to delight so many others.
@AnBourmanne (Click to Tweet!)

Have you ever pretended to be someone you’re not. How did that made you feel?

An Bourmanne mentors smart hard-working women who are feeling overwhelmed + (secretly) stuck in a life that sounded promising but feels draining + unfulfilling. She helps them to untangle themselves from those “what will they think of me” worries + that nagging (carefully hidden) sense of somehow falling short. Grab the (free) toolbox to help you deal with criticism without taking it personally right here. Because life’s too short to be pretend happy, right? You can follow An on Twitter. 

Image courtesy of Daniel Santalla.