by: Rachelle Disbennett-Lee
I recently received a letter addressed to Spectacular Rachelle Lee. At first I thought it was a joke. Who would write such a thing? I then thought maybe it was a mistake. Whatever it was, I knew it did not feel comfortable. It turned out to be an advertisement, for what I am not even sure. What I am sure of is that the way it was addressed caught my attention, and I realized how difficult it can be to own just how spectacular I am.
We are all spectacular, but how often do we own it? Would we really go around calling ourselves spectacular, brilliant or wonderful? But how many of us call ourselves other names? When you make a mistake, forget a friend's birthday, or in other ways act human, how often do you launch into names like stupid, idiot or worse? Those seem, in some ways, to be more comfortable words, but to call ourselves more positive adjectives is challenging.
I am guessing that most of us have a difficult time owning how spectacular we are because we were told things like “Don't blow your own horn!”, and “Don't brag!”. However, as I am fond of saying, it isn't bragging if it is true, and it is true that all of us have qualities that can be described as spectacular, fabulous and more. We simply have to own it.
If you were to receive a letter addressed using a positive adjective that would describe you, what would it be? I have grown quite fond of Spectacular, but you might like another word such as marvelous, beautiful, or stunning. My guess is whatever word makes you the most uncomfortable is the one you should use. I say that because most likely that is the quality most difficult for you to own. Well, it is time not just to own it, but to become it. Once you embrace the most wonderful parts of who you are, you will find it easier to name them, own them, and share them with the rest of the world.