”You don’t need someone else’s permission to live your own life.”

It’s rather common for us humans to seek other peoples’ approval before we feel we are ready to do something. We might be doubting ourselves, and our capabilities, and therefore seek to be validated by others. Instead of living our lives according to our own timelines, we focus on what other people are doing, and what they might think about us. Leaving us feeling that we’re somehow behind in life.

With that being said, if you feel that this is how you operate most of the time then it’s time that you start to use your energy to focus on yourself. Live your life according to your own timeline, and focus on what you can do today. This, however, does not mean that you shouldn’t allow yourself to be inspired by others; by all means, let people inspire you, surround yourself with like-minded, positive people who brings out the best in you. It’s by showing up as your most authentic self, that you will eventually find your tribe.

So, how to focus more on your own timeline?

For example, when learning a new skill; start by doing it for you, and not for anyone else. Don’t wait for permission from others in order for you to start – seek it from within. Give yourself permission.

If you want to do something, if there’s something you genuinely feel the need to share with the world; then go on and do it. If it’s important to you, then it’s vitally important that you proceed, with or without other peoples’ consent. And don’t think you’ll have to wait until you’re perfect at it, cause then you’ll probably have to wait forever. With time, consistency and effort you’ll cultivate the knowledge and expertise needed.

”You compete with no one but yourself.”

And secondly, if you want to grow within a specific field, or enhance a particular skill, you’ll have to stop comparing yourself to the ones that already master that skill, to someone that already has practised it for years. And this of course doesn’t mean that you can’t use them as a source of inspiration, but to compare their set of skills to your own could become detrimental to your own development. Remember, you compete with no one but yourself.

You see, you don’t have to have all the answers to all the questions in order to begin, you will learn along the way. You’re allowed to do life at your own speed, at a pace that is comfortable for your growth.

You won’t be able to excel in your field if you’re constantly directing your focus on other peoples’ talents and whereabouts, and comparing that to where you are yourself in life. Rather, your focus should be on you, in this moment. Where are your areas of improvements? And how do you proceed from there? Cultivate your own skill sets and learn about yourself daily. You are a work of art – Embrace the bits and pieces that make you unique. What do your have to offer? How can you best serve? What do you have that the rest of the world needs a slice of?

The world needs you, it doesn’t need you being a copy of someone else.

With this being said, maybe there’s this thing you wish to do; something you have been wanting to do for a long time, but you haven’t had the nerve to start. What if today, is the perfect day to begin?