1st vulnerable task for 2024.
Share a photo that you feel most represents your true self.
Here it is.....
Out of the thousands of pics I’ve taken in my life (and just 7 months after that picture above).
I boil it down to this one – a picture of me, bald and without makeup, completely bare, feeling good on Day 7 from the Red Devil (that’s the aggressive chemo treatment that would have me down for a about a week, the doctor graciously spread them out every 2 weeks knowing I would need a few days of reprieve before the next one, THANK YOU DR. HELLERSTADT! (I went through for 4 rounds). This image has become something of a touchstone for me, a representation of a profound shift in my perspective and a journey through self-love to self-acceptance and joy.
It's with mixed emotions when you find your yourself preparing yourself to let life take you to a place where you're forced to ride the depths of life and accept that it's time to walk through the door, come what may.
We all have doors in our lives.
The question we must all ask ourselves, "WHO comes out of the door?"
It's a journey that I feel humbled to share with you, in the hopes that it may resonate with some of you and perhaps inspire a shift in your own relationship with self-image.
You see, this image wasn't always a source of pride for me. In fact, there was a time when I cringed at the sight of it. I'd immediately delete any photos that captured me in such a vulnerable state, believing that they exposed my flaws and insecurities for the world to see. It took me months, even years, to look back at these images and wonder, "Why was I so hard on myself?"
Have you ever asked yourself? "Why am I so hard on myself?"
My journey through self-love to self-acceptance to joy began with a shift in perspective. I realized that the image in front of me wasn't one of flaws; it was a portrait of authenticity. It was me, stripped of all masks and pretenses, embracing my true self. A realization that is liberating.
We live in a world that often bombards us with images of perfection. We're told that perfection is the standard, and anything less is unworthy. It's a narrative we find out too soon that erodes the very spirit that is our strongest ally.
I am no exception.
It wasn't until I embraced my own vulnerability that I truly started to heal. I’m allowing myself to be seen, flaws and all, and I’ve discovered that authenticity is far more beautiful than any illusion of perfection.
Today, that image serves as a reminder of my journey through self-love to self-acceptance and joy. It's a symbol of the strength that comes from vulnerability, and the beauty that can be found in embracing our true selves.
We are enough, just as we are.
Let's embark on this journey together – a journey to self-love, self-acceptance, and embracing our true selves. I challenge you to share a picture of yourself that you feel most represents your true self and tell us why.
Abundant healing,
Tag @sanaraskincare and @yosoysanara, as we would love to share!
Or comment below and tell us one way you are embracing vulnerability.