Sean McDevitt
Unleash Your Inner Awesomeness
In sporadic periods of my life, I’ve felt awesome. Good examples include when I broke the four-mile record at Illinois College, holding my daughter in my arms, marrying my wife, and other similar awesome events. However, for the most part, I’m not awesome, nor do I feel awesome.
I’m actually pretty introverted. I’m not a big self-expression guy. I don’t wear loud clothes or have a huge personality. But lately, I’ve been thinking it might be worthwhile to embrace my inner awesomeness.
Undoubtedly, being awesome holds an abundance of self-expression and personal growth opportunities waiting to be unlocked.
I’m reminded of the television show, How I Met Your Mother. One of the leads, Barney Stinson, played by Neil Patrick Harris, has a line that is trite and silly but also has a kernel of truth to it, “When I get sad, I stop being sad and be AWESOME instead! True story.” To be fair, I’m not sad, but you can easily substitute sad with any other emotion.
For me, being awesome is all about stepping outside of your comfort zone and embracing the awkward, the silly, and the downright ridiculous. It’s about defying the norms and societal expectations and giving yourself permission to be authentically you. By doing so, we grant ourselves permission to explore uncharted territories and discover hidden talents and passions. It’s like a rollercoaster ride of self-discovery, where you unleash your inner awesomeness and let it shine for the world to see.
For many years, I was chained down by self-doubt. It still has a good foothold with me. But I know what I need to do to break the chains and be more vulnerable and open to new experiences.
Unleashing my inner awesomeness means having fun and not taking myself so seriously. To do that, I’m breaking out of my comfort zone by trying new things such as writing here regularly. Whether it’s trying a new hobby, taking on a challenging project, or engaging in conversations that push boundaries, embracing the unknown can lead to remarkable personal transformation. Moreover, being awesome is not limited to grand gestures or extraordinary achievements. It can be found in the simplest of pleasures and everyday moments. It’s about finding joy in the small things, appreciating the beauty in the ordinary, and living life with a sense of enthusiasm and gratitude.
I’ve always embraced my likes and dislikes, quirks, and certain point of view. Right or wrong, it’s me. What I haven’t always done is present myself that way and be me 110%.
Doesn’t the world need more individuals who have the courage to be unapologetically themselves, to shine their light brightly, and inspire others to do the same? I think so. I want to be one of those awesome people.
I challenge you to embrace who you truly are! Embrace awkward dance moves and indulge in guilty pleasures without fear. Let’s make this world brighter moment by moment!
As Gene Simmons once said, “Life is too short to have anything but delusional notions about yourself.”
