Welcome to Pageant week Girls -
I thought it was time
to talk a little more from my heart - so forgive me if my candidness
affects you! Instead I hope it inspires you!
The desire for approval often stops us from truly following our hearts. If you are looking for validation, hiding your true self and trying to prove yourself to others, then please stop it. I am saying this from a
loving space because I spent most of my early years doing exactly this.
I stopped log ago trying to get people to like and accept me. I started
thinking about living the kind of life I’d always wanted. In
my moments of questioning myself, I go back to remembering how
controlled I felt and what a big job it was to try and make everyone
like me. It's much nicer to be self-confident and self aware. I have
learned that I don’t need the approval of others in order to succeed. I
also don’t waste my time and energy worrying whether others disapprove
of my choices.You Don’t Need Approval, yet I see many girls caring too much about what others think of them or feeling they have to change who they are in order to fit in or be accepted.
The trouble is you
can’t please everyone all of the time, nor should you try. Our true
beauty lies in the complexity of our emotions, our vulnerabilities and
our imperfections. When you decide to embrace the authentic YOU, ( THE REAL
YOU) instead of who you think others want you to be, you give yourself
the opportunity to experience real success and real happiness in your
life. You do not need the approval of others to validate yourself or to
succeed in life.
Consider this – it’s better to be hated for who you are than be loved for who you aren’t.
Maintaining a facade is
hard work. You are not relaxed and give off a nervous vibe that people
pick up. I see this a lot in young women. Your judges too, will
pick up on this! Their trained to look for the phony! And although
occasionally they are fooled, it is not often.
My advice to you is to
drop the pretense and let the real YOU shine brightly. You already have a
unique personality that can be the very DNA that the judges are looking
for! Stop comparing yourself to others and trying to be someone you‘re
not just because you think that is what you must be in order to wear the
crown. When you can be yourself around others, you become magnetic.
It doesn’t matter if we
are talking about your family, your facebook page, your blog,
friendships in real life or the title of Miss California. The bottom line is that people
are drawn to authenticity so quit seeking approval or “borrowing” from
others. BE YOU!
It’s very easy to constantly ask for opinions and approval from all of those around you but trust your intuition. At times you may well find yourself in a difficult situation and need help or a second opinion. But do you do this all the time? The trouble is that
most of us just aren’t in touch with our feelings. It’s easier to look
for outside approval than do the work of getting to know ourselves
better. DO THE WORK - learn to know and love yourself!
Doesn't this go back to my favorite question? What do you see when
you get up in the morning and look in the mirror? You've rehearsed the
pageant answer, but what's your REAL ANSWER! Learn to trust your
inner voice because only you know what’s really right for you.
Right now, Start! This is pageant week and some of you are struggling emotionally. Check in with yourself and listen quietly! Don’t put any pressure on yourself to “get it right.” You can only do your best in that very moment, but that choice is yours!
If you make a mistake in a particular phase of competition, you let
it go and move to the next phase, stronger - giving your all every moment and never being defeated!
The only way to change
things in your life is by taking total responsibility for everything you
do. You are the only person who can make things happen in your life.
You are the person who decides whether to be great or ordinary. This
kind of self-awareness is essential if you want to take charge of your
life and by doing so change the course of your future.
The need for approval
affects all of us at one time or another but it can paralyze you from
pursuing the very things that make you happy and feel alive inside. Do
you love that dress and feel beautiful in it? - Then YOU ARE beautiful
in it! Have you rehearsed current events and interview and know you can answer the questions? Then YOU WILL!
It’s important to be true to yourself! Speak your truth, and be
Confident! Walk your path with confidence and don’t expect everyone to
“get you” along your journey. Listen to your inner voice and follow
that, regardless what other people may think or say. Let it go girls -
don't let your fears or what anyone has said, affect you! Then you have
defeated yourself. Instead Breathe, Stay calm, F O C U S! You've
worked hard - you deserve this!
Take care of yourselves this week and pamper yourself, REST, HYDRATE, EAT - Your hard work comes down to next week, HAVE FUN WITH IT! None of
what will happen next week, will be the end of the world! Instead it
will BE a new beginning full of blessings! It's God's plan, not ours!!!!
I love you all and am
soooooooo very proud of each of you and what you bring to this program!
Each of you have touched my life with your stories and successes.
Because of each of you, I am once again reminded of why I invest my time
and my love into this program. You inspire me to be a better person
daily! Thank you for letting me be a small part of your journey! May
God calm your nerves, lift you up and Smile on your week and make all
your dreams come true!
Congratulations, YOU MADE IT, now go out and ENJOY IT!
Hugs, Hugs and Hugs,
Junann Smith Amaral
Executive Director
Miss Tulare County Scholarship Pageant
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