On being authentically you

Hello YOU!

This post goes out to bloggers, writers, and anyone who has a 'voice', even if that's only on your Facebook page, Twitter account etc.

Do you ever feel that your 'voice' isn't YOU enough? Sometimes I do.

I think when I started blogging here for (whatever reason) I felt like I couldn't really be myself, that I was 'too much' for public consumption. Gradually I've started to put that aside, and I hope my blog carries over a bit of my personality - fun-loving, slightly cheeky and passionate about pretty things, whilst muting perhaps some of the more annoying aspects of my personality - like my fondness for the F-bomb.

When you rely upon the written word to put yourself across it can be hard to decide what to put down and what to leave behind, without leaving your whole self out. It's the kind of thing that could drive you mad if you thought about it long enough, so I think you really have to go with your heart and your instinct.

The worst thing you can do is compare yourself to someone else's writing style or 'voice'. The beauty of reading a series of blogs is it's like reading loads of little magazines. The contrast is the best part of it. No one wants to read a bunch of carbon copy posts just with a different face.

You need to work out what it is that's different about you, concentrate on it and make it your USP (unique selling point.) To some people this is as easy as falling off a log, and to others (like me) it's not so easy. I'm still working on mine, but one thing's for sure - I'm the best person to put across 'me'. I'm the best person to write the magazine of my life, and you are the best person to write the magazine of your life.

Whatever it is you want to say, do it. If you have a space to say it, make the most of it. Never be put off doing something because you think someone else might be doing the same thing better. What you have to say has value. Not everyone will love what you have to say, but will resonate with someone, even if you never get to hear about it.

Thanks for reading.