#30 How to Stop Struggling and Fully Step into Your Power w/ Anné Klint
One of the biggest lessons I’ve been integrating recently is that life doesn’t need to be that hard.
Of course, we wouldn’t grow without adversity and challenge. And yes, going through hard things is how we get our confidence. But there is also such a thing as trying too hard when it’s not necessary. When we get into this spiral we put our mental and physical health at risk.
I got this insight as I was blow drying my hair last week, and noticed it’s been years since I’ve given myself a proper blow out. I’m talking about the kind you get at a nice salon where they serve you coffee and you swap life stories with your hair stylist. And when you’re done, walk out of the doors feeling unstoppable with your voluminous, supermodel hair. This is probably what Beyonce feels like 24/7.
It’s what I wanted to feel like 24/7. And I literally tried to keep this up by giving myself a blowout every single day for years straight. Have you ever given yourself one? They’re super hard! They take forever and your arms get sore trying to find the perfect angle, spin and direction of each section of hair.
I think about all the time I spent on making myself up and wonder what I could have done with all those hours instead. My logical reason for spending so much time and effort on my glam was to look “professional” for my fancy corporate job. I wanted to be taken seriously so I strived for perfection through my hair, makeup, heels and cute wear to work outfits.
But beneath the layers of professionalism was perfectionism that came from deep feelings of insecurity and unworthiness. All I really wanted was to be accepted and to feel like I belonged. So I put in a lot of effort to act the part in order to feel a connection, it didn’t matter if it was forced. The more I tried to get external validation from my work, relationships and social life, the harder life got. Being in this spiral took so much energy. Does this resonate?
It doesn’t have to be that way.
I was still living in San Francisco when I finally realized this truth. One day, my dog needed to be taken outside for a quick walk so I threw on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt and didn’t bother to fix myself up.
On this walk I noticed something different. Every few hundred feet or so I’d look up and someone would be smiling at me or giving me a warm head nod. I even got into small chats with a couple of folks.
I was successful at connecting with complete strangers. Without my armor. Without trying so hard. It was effortless… and a little foreign.
Today, I experience this type of connection pretty frequently. But for the younger version of myself, she was just getting used to the idea of all of it.
Sometimes we make life harder than it has to be.
In my conversation with Anné Klint, we talk all about this topic and how women especially put so much pressure on themselves to perform. We overwork, we ignore our needs, we lose touch with our true selves. We put our physical and mental health at risk trying to conform to society’s standards of success and what others think will make us happy.
She shares her story of how her life “blew up” at the peak of her career, how she healed physically and emotionally from this experience, and how it became the impetus to changing her career and becoming a spiritual healer and coach.
Anné passionately believes we aren’t meant to suffer. And that we were born to flourish.
Listen to Episode 30 Now
Going on a self-awareness and healing journey has transformed my life in the best way. I’ve eliminated a lot of the suffering I was unintentionally putting myself through and replaced it with more joy, self-love and inner peace.
If you’re a healing journey and want inspiration and helpful tips on how to connect more deeply with yourself, you can read my blog article, 15 Effective Ways to Improve Your Relationship With Yourself.