One summer, while I was home from college, I was going through some of the artwork and such that my parents had saved from when my brothers and I were very young. I found my Kindergarten report card! I was taken aback when I read: “Catherine is a little ray of sunshine, but she is really shy.”
It really hit home.
I’ve always been labeled as confident and outgoing, but I’ve also always been painfully shy. All of this is true. I love meeting new people and hearing your stories, but sometimes getting to that point pushes me way outside of my comfort zone. It’s my confidence and my determination that has allowed me to push through the shyness. But it’s always been there.
I was sharing this anecdote about my Kindergarten report card with a friend last week and it dawned on me why my style and empowering women through personal style is such a passion of mine.
It’s been my armor in moments of shyness.
When I switched from Catholic to public school in 5th grade, I carefully chose the outfit for my 5th grade photo. And I still remember the outfit I wore for my first day of school when we then moved from a Detroit suburb to a Chicago suburb (again, in 5th grade). I still remember some of my favorite outfits from that year in transition.
Not to mention, the power of color through those formative years. Blue was always a mainstay. I had one shirt I would wear probably once a week. It was a deep blue and, again, it made me feel confident and pretty. Who cares if I didn’t have as many clothes as everyone else. I still carefully picked out my outfit each day to make me feel good.
And then, thinking about what I wore when I was working corporate … and the lack of color in those wardrobes! Even when I’d try to punch it up, the lack of color is a clear indicator of how bored I was. Though I loved my job as a merchandiser at BCBG (for the most part), I need a bigger challenge – a bigger purpose.
Still, to this day, when I go to networking events or even speak in front of groups, it’s putting me way outside of my comfort zone. You know what? That’s OK. For one, it’s pushing me to grow and expand and I know it’s not about me. It’s about YOU. Plus, I have on my coat of armor and I know I look great. And that’s where my confidence comes from.
Are you hiding in your clothes or do you have your own personal coat of armor? If you need some bravado, start small and add some color. I promise it will give you a boost of confidence.