Step out of the Spotlight

As a female entrepreneur, I've grown in a lot of ways that I would have never imagined with the experience of running a business. In the past year "Stepping out of the Spotlight" has been a re-occuring lesson. This is a lesson that is important for every woman, entrepreneur or not. Have you ever noticed that compared to men, women are more defensive towards each other? We feel threatened by other women who appear, smarter, more successful, taller, thinner... the list goes on. When we feel "threatened" or insecure, we are NOT our best selves. This is a horrible habit that I think we have all fallen into at some point in our lives. This is only a small part of "Stepping out of the Spotlight.

The first thing this phrase means to me is to allow other women's lights to shine without worrying that it will dim your own. Recognizing another's women's beauty does not discredit your own. This can apply to anything, not just beauty. The point is, that allowing someone else to "shine their light" is not going to cast a shadow over your own. By celebrating other women's strength, intelligence and success you can let go of insecurities, learn new things and open yourself up to making genuine connections and welcoming opportunities. As women, it can be difficult to put our jealously aside when another woman has what we want, but I've learned that being jealous doesn't make you any smarter, prettier or more successful. If we can recognize our jealousy of others as an opportunity to grow and understand what we think we are "lacking," we can appreciate someone else's light and let it positively effect our lives instead of brewing in a place of negativity.

The second thing this phrase means to me is to use other women's light to spark your own and be a coal in their fire. This sounds a little confusing so I will break down both parts. When I see other women pursuing amazing opportunities, it sparks my own inspiration and drive. I don't need to be in that spotlight, because I'm not ready for it. It motivates me to get there, but by enjoying watching other women in the spotlight (instead of resenting them for it) I can learn from their success.

Now being a coal for someone else's fire is a new thing for me. I enjoy giving other women a little light from my own experience to help their success. A lot of networking I do is to help my business, but also recognizing other women's potential and give them some advice to fuel their own fire. Again, I will reiterate, giving them a little light does not take away from my own, it actually in turn makes me brighter. This is the take home point! By immersing yourself in a loving  mindset that celebrates others, you are also lifting your vibes higher and shining brighter.

REAL TALK... I did not always have this mindset

I'm human, I learned this lesson because it was definitely a lesson I needed to learn. Before I was an
entrepreneur I longed to be "the best" at something. I wanted to be the center of attention, be recognized for my accomplishments and be front and center every chance I got. This was never as fulfilling as it seemed and I would end up feeling a little empty after the 5 seconds of fame. Even when I first started my business, I still thought that it would be "all about me" and I was wrong. I did not begin to be successful until I shone the light on others. Success is much more rewarding when you have people to share it with and I'd rather be on a stage full of light and support, than be in the spotlight alone.

I'd love to hear your story and how you can relate to this topic! Connect with me via Instagram or Facebook!

Kelsey @kbiddi