Your Message Matters. Get It Out!
For half a century, I hid behind the “good girl” mask; saying yes when I meant no, trying to please everyone, aiming for perfection in everything I did. I thought it would make me feel more lovable and worthy… but it didn’t.
No more.
Today, I’m a coach, author, and speaker, and I’m here because I have a message to share:
The world needs more conscious people.
How can that be achieved? By helping people become the best version of themselves.
If you’re reading this, I believe you already have a message that can move people in that direction. You might even feel it pressing against your heart, waiting to be expressed… maybe it could even change someone’s life. And yet, you hesitate.
Why you might be holding back (and how I did too)
Sometimes it’s early conditioning: the things we were told as children about speaking up, taking space, or “knowing our place.” The rules about what we should or shouldn’t do, what’s safe, and what’s not. Our beliefs are shaped by parents, teachers, friends, and our experiences along the way.
When I was about ten years old, I was in a school celebration for Greece’s independence, performing a traditional dance. While setting up for the dance on stage, we had to sing a folk song. Being the “good girl” and perfectionist I was, I sang my heart out. Then I heard my teacher say, “Who is making that noise?” She pointed at me and said: “You! Don’t sing out loud. Just form the words with your mouth… I don’t want to hear a word!”
You can imagine what this did to a ten-year-old’s confidence. In my head, the words stuck:
You’re not good enough.
You’re not allowed to express your authentic self unless it’s perfect.
The doubts that follow us into adulthood
And then you grow up and start working on yourself. You learn, you evolve, and you begin to sense that you have something worth sharing with the world. You find the courage — or maybe it’s simply the need — to start learning more about it, to prepare yourself to give it form.
You feel increasingly compelled to speak your truth… but then you stumble into a familiar feeling, one that may have been with you for years:
I’m not good enough.
I’m an imposter. Who am I to speak on this?
What do I really know? Not enough.
People will see right through me.
The self-comparison trap
That was me when I was training to become a Success Principles & Methodology Trainer with Jack Canfield.
I am sitting in these Zoom meetings, in gallery mode. And what do I do? I compare myself to everyone else and decide that I am the most inexperienced, least knowledgeable, and least accomplished of all the other people in the virtual room. And I stay silent, feeling small.
But when you have something burning inside you, silence is painful. So you keep working on yourself, building confidence. That’s what I did.
And then… even when you feel ready, something else can stop you — perfectionism, overthinking, fear of getting it wrong.
Perfectionism in action
I’m a recovering perfectionist.
I’m at my desk, drafting a two-sentence email. Twenty minutes go by. I’m stuck deciding whether to start with “Dear,” “Hi,” or “Hello.” Then I agonise over whether to end with “Best regards,” “Kind regards,” “All the best,” or “Thank you.” I read and re-read every word, questioning the syntax, the tone, the choice of punctuation.
It’s exhausting. And it’s not just about emails; it’s a pattern that affects everything.
I know I need to break it. So I take a bold step: improv lessons.
What improv taught me about mistakes
In improv, the first rule is that there are no mistakes. You simply build on whatever is said. It’s about the “Yes, and…” mindset, where you support your co-actors and keep the scene moving.
For an overthinking perfectionist, that’s terrifying. Every time I say something, I second-guess it — Was that the right thing to say? Or, I could have said something more clever.
But improv has a smart antidote: if you think you’ve messed up, you take a step forward, shout, “I failed!” and bow. The group gives you a standing ovation.
I take that step, I shout, “I failed!”… and everyone claps and cheers. In that moment, what could have felt like humiliation becomes a celebration.
It reframes mistakes entirely. Suddenly, they’re not disasters… they’re part of the game.
The lie we tell ourselves about being “ready”
Improv is spontaneous. It forces you to act, to say something — anything — and trust that it’s enough. The next person picks up from there.
Here’s what I’ve learned: Ready is a myth. The only way to feel ready is to start… and keep going. There’s no failure. Every attempt, whether smooth or awkward, moves you forward.
The ACT framework
When I finally began sharing my message, I realised it came down to three things. I call it the ACT framework, because action is the key to creating whatever you want in life.
A — Accept where you are
You don’t have to start from perfect. Begin from exactly where you are, with the resources, skills, and courage you have today.
C — Connect with people, not perfection
Perfection can be a trap. Focus instead on the one person who needs to hear your message and speak directly to them.
T — Turn it into a practice
Make sharing your message part of your rhythm — daily, weekly, or in whatever way feels sustainable. Consistency builds confidence and momentum.
The lottery ticket
Not taking action reminds me of an anecdote about a man who prays every day to win the lottery… but never buys a ticket.
You already have your ticket — your message — but it only matters if you play it.
So… will you keep your message folded away, or will you take the next step and share it?
Your step today
Everyone has a message to share. You were born to shine. So, what is the life you want to live? What is the world you want to live in? Help create it.
Lead by example. Share your gifts, your message, because the world needs you.
Take one step today. What will it be?
