I am the girl listening to all of the podcasts, researching all of the things, trying to DO all of the things – but there was something I was majorly lacking. Community. I’m not the girl who is outgoing and can make friends everywhere I go (hello, I’m really nice) but I just don’t put myself out there and say “hey, be my friend.” Ever since moving back to my hometown in California (I hadn’t lived here since 6th grade) after graduating high school in Nevada, it’s not like I had contact with any old friends. I was basically starting from scratch in the friend department. It’s been almost ten years since moving back (holy crap, my 10 year high school anniversary is next year) and I can tell you that I still am not the best at putting myself out there.
Personal development is really important to me, I love listening to podcasts on motherhood, how to your business/blog, etc. but I wasn’t making connections. Yes, yes I’ve made some freaking fantastic friends and contacts in the blogging world – but not here in my own community. I was craving and needing something more.
Last Sunday I attended my first ever women’s conference. The Overcom(h)er Conference, put on by local women in my town – FOR women. The message is simple, yet everything I needed – to overcome the ‘her’ inside of us that says we can’t succeed, that we can’t reach our goals, that we aren’t good enough. To stand up for our fellow sister, and to create community over competition. The talks led by these amazing women who have been here in my town all along rocked my world. The details put into this conference were down to the tiniest detail so Insta worthy, I was actually swooning.
So, here’s (some of) what I learned from this event.
- You don’t have to have thousands of followers on Instagram to be successful. To matter. To share your thoughts. Or to make an impact.
- You can create community right where you’re at. There are people out there looking for the same thing as you. Maybe it’s a lonely stay at home mom, maybe it’s another blogger or entrepreneur who is looking for a friend or mentor. More often than not, people crave community and this conference really showed me that.
- You may have to reach your goals while being scared. I learned that being scared while doing something is a GOOD thing. I’ve always dealt with that fight or flight response and often want to run away when I’m scared, but seeing these women talk about just having to do it while scared made me realize that maybe being scared isn’t such a bad thing. It can also be exciting.
- That you can do things alone. I normally wouldn’t go to anything like this without my mom or my sister – but I went alone, and you know what? I was just fine! I actually put forth effort of getting out of my bubble and introducing myself to other women. This was soooo good for me.
Just from attending one single conference I’ve already made new friends, and was able to learn from some badass women behind several local companies.
I highly suggest putting yourself out there and meeting people right where you are. Try and attend an event in your area, and I’m sure it’ll give you a major boost to not give up on yourself and your dreams.
