The Voice of Me: My Journey to Self-Actualization

Submitted by Genelle Pollydore

Self-actualization occurs when a person is able to take full advantage of their talents while being mindful of their limitations. I realize my full potential and I have a desire to openly express myself and be the best that I can be. I have not always had this ambition. I have been unsure of myself and I have been discouraged from being myself. I have been influenced to be someone I am not. I have limited and underestimated myself and minimized myself and my successes.

My story is about my journey from confidence to loss of sense of self to re-affirming who I am and who I want to be. I hope to empower the BSC community to love themselves, believe in themselves, and reach their full potential. Thanks for reading/listening. I am so very happy and grateful to share and be a part of the collective! ❤️

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I had a voice that was strong

A voice that was free

A voice that was the most confident part of me

I spoke my truth and I shared openly

My voice relayed all of me

All of the expectations of what I should be

The limiting of what I could be

The discouragement of what I wanted to be

The silencing of my ambition

The dismal of my beliefs

The invalidation of my experiences

Time after time my voice dwindled out of me

I lost my sense of where I should be

I didn’t know what I could be

I believed what others expected of me

I was defined by what was portrayed onto me

Not knowing who I wanted to be led me to accept all that was expected of me

I tried to do what was not me

I neglected all that was unique to me

But only I can be me

I am beyond the expectations of me

I know now that my uniqueness is the greatest part of me

I will shine by being true to me

I am growing consistently 

To be the best version of me