The Sacred Art of Being Beautifully, Unapologetically You

Growing up, I was that child, the one who made waves at family dinners and raised eyebrows at most gathering. When cultural traditions didn't honour men and women equally, I refused to play along. My Mum found my rebellious spirit exhausting, and my dad used to joke (half-seriously) that I must have been adopted because my strong opinions about women's place in our Italian family were so far from the norm.

Looking back now, I can see a pattern that's followed me through life. The most important, soul-defining steps I've taken have rarely come with a round of applause. In fact, many of my more dramatic life choices were met with head-shaking and whispers of "What is she thinking?" People I loved thought I was being foolish, reckless even.

Here's what nobody tells you about having a rebellious heart - it can be achingly lonely. My family wasn't prepared for someone who was "wildly and divinely rebellious" (as I like to think of it now). That loneliness crept in slowly, and before I knew it, I was doubting everything, my heart, my mind, my very sense of self

There's a quote by Max Ehrmann that found me during one of my darkest moments: "Be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here."

What I discovered in my own deep, dark hole, that place where self-esteem goes to die, is that trying to meet someone else's expectations is like slowly poisoning your own happiness. That persistent "I'm not good enough" voice? It's almost always borrowed from external influences, from people who projected their fears and limitations onto you. When we listen to that voice, we stop looking within.

We forget about the beautiful, shining heart that beats within us, waiting to be honoured.

If you're reading this and that "not good enough" mantra is playing on repeat in your mind, I want to share seven truths that helped me find my way back to myself. These aren't just tips, they're invitations to reclaim your magic.

1. Your Only Real Competition? Yesterday's Version of You

Stop measuring yourself against everyone else's highlight reel. The most meaningful journey you'll ever take is becoming the best version of yourself, not a shinier version of someone else.

Be the change you want to see in yourself. Let the future vision of who you're becoming be your hero. The world doesn't need another copycat; it needs your unique qualities, your specific heart, your irreplaceable perspective.

2. Treat Yourself Like Someone You Love

You don't have to have it all figured out right now. You don't need to beat yourself up for not being "there" yet, wherever "there" even is.

Think about a flower in a garden. It doesn't apologise for taking time to bloom. It doesn't compare itself to the rose next to it. It simply reaches for the light at its own pace and shows its unique beauty when it's ready. That's you. You're doing the best you can with what you have right now, and that's not just okay, it's everything.

3. Positivity Is Your Birthright (Really!)

The power of positive thinking isn't just feel good fluff, it's a gift from God energy, from the universe itself. When you want things to shift, hold onto your faith, release the fear that's keeping you stuck, and keep your focus trained on solutions rather than problems.

This doesn't mean toxic positivity or pretending everything is fine when it's not. It means choosing, again and again, to look for the light even when darkness surrounds you.

4. Mistakes Are Proof You're Trying

Here's a perspective shift - mistakes aren't failures, they're evidence that you're in the arena, doing the work. We're all students here, learning as we go. Every misstep is an opportunity for growth, a chance to learn something valuable about yourself and the world.

Success isn't a straight line, it's messy, winding, and full of detours. Those detours? They're part of the journey, not obstacles to it.

5. There's More Right With You Than Wrong

Even when you're struggling, especially when you're struggling, don't forget to acknowledge your strengths. If you took a moment right now to write down everything that's right about you, you'd probably fill pages.

So go ahead, try it if you need to. Make that list. Focus on what you do well, on the qualities that make you uniquely you. They're there, waiting to be remembered.

6. This Moment Is Where Your Power Lives

Nothing is set in stone except the past, and even then, you can change how you perceive and relate to it. The best way forward is to be fully present and focus on right now with intention and gentleness.

When negative thoughts show up (and they will), remember, you can course correct and move forward. It might take time, but transformation is absolutely possible.

Start with your breath. One moment, one breath, that's it. With the breath comes peace. With peace comes clarity. And in that clarity, the future vision of you, your hero self waits in the stillness, ready to guide you forward.

7. Embrace Your Inner Sacred Rebel

Be your sacred rebel. Be willing to be shown a different way than what's been modelled for you or what others have declared possible or impossible.

Here's what my healing journey taught me... there is always another way, love's way. The possibilities for healing and creating are genuinely limitless when we open ourselves to miracles.

Yes, you might quake in your boots as you contemplate that next brave step. That trembling? That's your sacred heart reminding you that you love life above all, that you're alive and fully present to the adventure.

If you're feeling stuck, if that "not good enough" voice is winning, if you need guidance to reclaim your confidence and self-esteem, please know, support is available. Sometimes we all need someone to walk beside us as we find our way back to ourselves.

You are enough. You've always been enough. And the world needs exactly who you are, rebel heart and all.

Carmela Pollock is based in Mornington, Victoria, where she operates a successful private practice offering dynamic, holistic services, including individual counselling, group workshops, Reiki training and healing, past life regression, and mindfulness practices. She brings heart energy to every service, assisting clients in discovering their blueprint by guiding them to explore their inner world, dismantle unhelpful patterns, and build a new, values-based foundation. She inspires clients to reach higher and find their own self-inspiration, supporting them until they confidently walk their own journey alone.

To learn more about Carmela, please visit her website.