Unraveling the Mystery of Being “You”—Whaaat?

Core Article: Unraveling the Mystery of Being “You”—Whaaat?

Paragraph I’m Pondering:“… there slowly grew and ripened the knowledge of what wisdom…”

Powerful Affirmations to Inspire: “I trust my intuition and inner wisdom to guide me…”

Book Review: Siddartha by Herman Hesse

Cool Stuff: “If you ever want to go back in time to…”

AI Info & Resources: In-depth knowledge of these core AI tools

Unraveling the Mystery of Being “You”—Whaaat?

You’ve probably heard this cringy-worthy catchphrase more than once in your lifetime: “Just be you,” or another version,” Be uniquely you,” which honestly sounds a bit too PDish for me. (Personal development).

Besides that, what in the heck does that really mean anyway???

AND you may even be mumbling under your breath – “Um, Shannon, not sure I need to read this, cuz how in the world is this cliche—’being uniquely you’ gonna help me in my work and life? You’re getting kind of crazy with all this PD stuff!” 😉

Yeah, you know what? You’re absolutely right. This concept is a bit cliche and can feel vague and oftentimes frustrating.

You might even think, “Well, I am just me—isn’t that enough? I mean, what more can I do?”

Well, knowing me as you do, what I’m gonna say next won’t surprise you… the real magic happens when you dig beyond the surface of just “being you.” It starts with getting quiet and tuning into and focusing on what’s TRULY IMPORTANT TO YOU. Not what others say you should care about. It’s about what lights you up inside.

It’s about giving yourself permission to show up exactly as you are—embracing those parts of yourself, the quirks, your passions, and yes, even the messy stuff you may have hidden away— the raw stories, the experiences that have shaped you. This is where your power lies.

The best part that might be kind of scary is that the more you connect and share that part of yourself, the more magnetic you become.

You may know this by now, and yes, it’s worth repeating—from a soulful marketing perspective, it’s not about following a cookie-cutter formula or trying to be someone you’re not.

You gotta connect with your deeper why, and those core values that guide not just your business but your life.

This is what your dream clients or customers will resonate with. Your people will find you when you show up authentically—because they’re looking for the real you, not the version you think you should be. Cuz, believe me, there’s a lot of that going on on the internet, the social media aggrandizing, boasting, and hyper sales and marketing…

The more honest and real you can be, the more your dream clients or customers will be attracted to you, I promise.

Here are some proven ways to inspire you to unlock that door to share who you really are that feels true to you AND also resonates with your dream clients or customers.

Listen to Your Inner Voice.
Take time to reflect on what truly matters to you beyond the noise. Your intuition is always there, guiding you. Be still, breathe, close your eyes, focus on what truly matters, and just listen to your inner voice. Then, start writing from that place of truth.
Reconnect with Your “Why.” Why did you start this journey in the first place? Go beyond the surface reasons like financial freedom or career flexibility (though those are important). What’s the deeper, more soulful reason? Maybe it’s about creating impact, empowering others, or even healing parts of yourself along the way. When you tap into this, everything becomes clearer—it becomes easier to be unapologetically you because you’re grounded in something real.
Own Your Story—All of It. You don’t need to have a shiny, perfectly packaged story. The real connection happens when you share your challenges, the moments you questioned everything, or even the times you almost gave up. People resonate with authenticity, not perfection. Think of your story as a bridge that connects you to your tribe. It’s through your vulnerability that people see themselves in you. Don’t be afraid to share the realness—this is what draws people to you.
Lead with Your Values. In soulful marketing, your values are your compass. They guide every decision you make, from the way you interact with your dream clients or customers to the products and services you offer. When you lead with your values, you attract people who believe in what you believe. And that’s powerful. People are drawn to those who are clear on who they are and what they stand for. So ask yourself, what are the non-negotiables in your life and business? Let those values come through in your messaging, offers, and everyday interactions.
Let Go of the “Shoulds. Society has a funny way of telling us what we should be doing. But here’s a radical idea: What if you let go of every “should” that doesn’t align with your truth? What if you gave yourself permission to market your business in a way that feels right for you? Maybe that means being more vulnerable in your emails, or maybe it means creating content that’s more raw and less polished. The moment you release the pressure to conform, you make space for your real self to come through.
Trust the Process—And Yourself. Trusting yourself might sound simple, but in practice, it can be the hardest part. It means trusting that your unique voice is enough, that your message will land with the right people, and that you don’t need to follow a cookie-cutter formula to succeed. Your intuition is your greatest asset here. It will guide you in creating content and products more aligned with your soul, not just the latest trend.
Connect Authentically: People crave real connection. When you show up as yourself—fully and unapologetically—you’re offering them something rare. THIS is what can truly set you apart from a crowded market. Always write and communicate directly to one person. Mel Robbins does this amazingly well. If you haven’t checked her Instagram, I’d highly recommend it.

Being you isn’t about following some formula to stand out; it’s about being so fully and confidently yourself that your audience can’t help but be drawn to you. That’s the beauty of soulful marketing—when you’re real, when you’re raw, when you lead with your heart and values, you create a deeper connection that goes beyond the surface.

It’s not about being the loudest voice in the room. It’s about being the truest. And when you show up in that space, your people will feel it. They’ll know you’re the real deal, and that’s what builds trust, loyalty, and, ultimately, success.

Bottom line: being uniquely you isn’t about perfection; it’s about showing up in your truth and letting that come through in everything you do.

So, if you’ve ever found yourself asking, “How do I even begin to be uniquely me?” — start here. Trust that you’re enough, and let your story, values, and uniqueness be your superpower.

Paragraph I’m Pondering

“Within Siddhartha there slowly grew and ripened the knowledge of what wisdom really was and the goal of his long seeking. It was nothing but a preparation of the soul. A capacity, a secret art of thinking, feeling, and breathing thoughts of unity at every moment of life. This thought matured him slowly, and it was reflected in Vasudeva’s old childlike face: Harmony, knowledge of the eternal perfection of the world, and unity.”
~ Herman Hesse, Siddhartha

Powerful Affirmations to Inspire

“I trust my intuition and inner wisdom to guide me to the right decisions, leading my business to greater heights.”
“I am worthy of the success and financial prosperity that comes from living in alignment with my purpose.”
“I attract partnerships, clients, and resources that accelerate my success and allow me to uplift others along the way.”

Book Review

Siddartha by Herman Hesse

Cool Stuff

If you ever want to go back in time to check out this company’s catalog, say 1939 or 1960. It’s kind of interesting to see what tech they were geeking out about back then!
10 Best entrepreneur stories for the curious-minded like me — Always good clickbait! Ha!
If you want to geek out on how TV and streaming started – check out this article. I will warn you: it’s a bit long and can get tedious. Yet the charts and info are quite fascinating for the curious-minded. Just the fact that TV was an outgrowth of radio was like a “oh right, I get it” moment for me.”

AI Info and Resources

Want more in-depth knowledge about some core AI tools that can help you? I mentioned “Notion” last week. This summary gives you some good examples of how, as an entrepreneur, you can use these tools.
A couple of Tools to validate your business idea:
Feedbackbyai: I’ve not used this one and seems interesting how it runs AI user interviews with 50+AI characters and creates a 100+ page business report on your ideas potential. Interesting, how it’s interviews AI characters… hmmm. Worth a look see.
DimeaDozen—I’ve actually used this one a few times, and it’s VERY cool for validating business ideas. It gives you a very reasonable business report for free. The paid reports have a bit more detailed info and are worth the money. It’s about analyzing and validating your idea in minutes.

Weekly Photos

We finally got out for a nice hike, and the weather was perfect. We went up to Shasta Dam and walked along the Sacramento River. There will be way more pictures next week!
I’ve been trying for so long to get a picture like this – Emma smoking a carrot. I know dweeb that I am sometimes about photos. She just got the carrot and is about to jump off the chair to eat it. Yeah, who knew Emma likes to smoke carrots?!
Hmmm, it looks like Alice is pulling the dogs along for a walk. You can see Emma’s friend Harley, who we try to walk a few times a week for our neighbor.
Love the weekly deer sightings. There’s a whole family living in our canyon.
This week’s unexpected scavenger hunt, a penny, and a little person looking to give a hug.
This is what our town looks like when we have a fire nearby – kind of pinky orange – weird. I can say I’ve never seen that in the Northeast when I lived there.
Yeah, the fall is one of the best times to get some amazing sunrises.

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