Show Yourself Novels & Stories

"How you present yourself." I immediately became self-conscious. He noticed. "Not your appearance." I looked at him. "I mean your presence." He gestured toward my clothes. "You've spent years wearing things that make you feel like you should disappear." I lowered my eyes. "Because I don't want people looking at me." "That's understandable." He spoke carefully. "But you don't have to dress for everyone else." "Then who do I dress for?" "Yourself." I looked down at my clothes. "What if I don't know what I like?"

Everything needed to be in perfection. "You know, what?" Athena said aloud for the women to hear. "In order to actualize your true self, you've got to know your worth. And knowing your worth can be really daunting. Not everyone is going to like you and that's okay. If you keep living the way you think you are expected to live, you'd end up being caged. Your true self will not be actualized."

“I wouldn’t do that!” “I know—but I’m telling you… self-doubt is a sure way to failure. This is the time. I watched you claim your place as Alpha Female in Maya’s cave, and it made my heart sing. Find that. That is what you are. Who you are. What you can do. You are capable and strong and gifted by God. So… do not flinch.” “But—” I shook my head and leaned down to so were nose to nose. “Do. Not. Flinch.”

I couldn't help but feel a twinge of apprehension. My eyes collided with Jessica's, and she sneered at me. Lucas's voice appeared in my head, a source of calm and reassurance. "Remember, Shana, this is your chance to showcase your progress and prove yourself. Embrace the challenges and let your abilities shine." Taking a deep breath, I nodded, steeling myself for what lay ahead. I was determined to prove that I had what it took to excel, regardless of anyone's skepticism.

Hee, hee, hee. Come on, Isabella, don't falter now. Show the world who you truly are today; no more hiding. You need to feel beautiful, valued, and admired, for you. Dress up and step out to experience life as the woman you truly are – a very beautiful one. All that's needed are the right clothes and shoes. Will I possess anything suitable?

Seb persuaded, and she did just that. He caressed her face, "You don't need to allow anyone to make you feel less of yourself. You're a great lawyer and I promise you that you'll be a great Mom." "We've all made mistakes in our past. We can only learn from them and move on. You agreed to give me a chance and we've been doing great together, we communicate from time to time and you also made time to accompany me to this event."

She would like to share a simple quote that she believes in and that inspired her ever since. “If you have the talent, showcase it. If you have a dream, make it come true. Don’t be afraid of judgments, because it is part of our journey, that will mold us to be a better person. Trust the process, and everything will fall into the right places at the end of the day.

Imagine me doing something like Bear Grylls. "Adventurer Taylen Nova. Your show could be called Novatures." I laughed. Jibin would have found that funny. Wait did I miss him? Nah. I just missed having someone to talk to I guess. "You're a weird kid." I told myself then asked, "Wait a minute, why am I talking to myself out loud?" I shrugged my shoulders. I better get used to only having myself around as a companion. I pulled the pills out of my pocket, I only had 1 left. Fridge magnets. I left the others in the car! You're an idiot Taylen.

"Because he got to meet you as himself. No calculation. No performance. Just Eli being Eli. And you responded to that. To him. I don't get that option. I'm always performing. Always the public version. And I don't know if you'd ever respond to the real me the way you responded to him." "Have you ever shown me the real you?" "I'm showing you right now." I looked at him. Really looked. Trying to see past the careful control to whatever was underneath. "Then show me more," I said. "If you want me to see you, actually let me see you. Not the strategy. Not the performance. You." "And if I do? If I let you see me and you still prefer him?" "Then at least you'll know. Instead of wondering."

The question sat in the air for a moment. Then Jason said, “The same version you are right now.” “That’s not helpful.” “It is, though.” He shifted slightly, propping himself up just enough to look at me properly. “You think visibility means performing something. Presenting yourself in a way that makes people accept you. You’ve been doing the opposite your whole life making yourself smaller so nobody would notice what you were but it’s the same instinct. Managing perception.” He paused. “You don’t have to do that here. You just have to walk through the door.”