Shameless
Be shameless.
You are too often made to feel ashamed of who you are. Ashamed of your strength, your beauty, your body, your sexuality.
The thing is: none of these things are bad things. Nor are they things you should be ashamed of.
Shame is both an external process and an internal one. We can have the same placed upon us, or we can choose to take it upon ourselves. But what is shame? Why do we feel shameful in some situations?
Shame is something we feel when we think (or are accused of) violating social norms. It can be used as a threat. As a weapon against us.
We can be shamed for having courage for doing something different. For being yourself. For taking a stand for ourselves for others.
The easiest way to avoid shame? Is to do nothing. Take no action for the benefit of you for the benefit of others that would be considered outside the norm. Conformity.
But if nobody took a stand, if nobody stepped past the boundary, if no one coloured outside the lines, then we as a society would stagnate. We would achieve nothing new. Those who have been historically persecuted for being different would still be persecuted.
There is another way to avoid shame. A harder way. That is to take courage and act bravely.
This is not something that happens overnight. You have to celebrate small victories. Learn to love yourself.
Breanna Aponte, host of the The Shameless Life Podcast, says the number one reason why people feel shame is because they are seeking affirmation from others.
When we judge ourselves based on what we see others doing or what the world says is beautiful or successful, we lose sight of loving ourselves as is and allow self-doubt to creep in.
The first step to accomplishing your dreams and creating a life you want is to believe you can actually do it. You would be surprised what you’re capable of achieving when you just believe in yourself. A way to get rid of self-doubt is to swap it for self-love.
Which brings us back to beyond boudoir photography. Because allowing yourself to be beautiful? Allowing yourself the freedom to express your strength, your body, your sexuality? Is a form of self love. Treating yourself to the Beyond Boudoir experience? Is a form of self love.
When we look at ourselves in the mirror, sometimes all we see are our faults and failures. But you are more than your worst attributes. My goal is to see what is beautiful and good and right about you and capture it. To show you at your best. To show you your potential. To help you get past your shame and let you be who you are, fully. Completely.
You can find more about the Shameless Life Podcast here.