July Welcome – Live Well, Travel Well, and Breathe Hatteras Island

Cultivating confidence and shine

Summer on Hatteras Island is in full swing with families on vacation, and I love that everyone is enjoying beach time at its best. Seeing the beach yoga posts, I sun-salute all the early morning yogis for a truly wonderful way to embrace the day. I pass joggers and dog walkers, people playing beach games, surfers taking to the waves, folks under canopies blissfully snoozing in their chairs, and kids happily playing and splashing about in the shore break.

Parents say the kids are living their best lives and have so much fun! This is true. Sometimes we are so busy adulting that we forget how to have fun ourselves. Remember, it’s your summer too. You can choose to be a rebel, loosen up, and stop ‘doing’ everything. Let fun grab you by the hand and see where it takes you. Having more playtime not only gets your glow back and makes you feel alive, it also sparks neuroplasticity in your brain—which is a good thing!

Get glowing. Have you noticed how some people can light up a room and make everyone around them feel good? What’s their secret sauce? Does it come in a bottle like that shimmery, shiny beach body lotion for an all-over dazzling summer glow? People with ‘presence’ seem so at ease with themselves, and it’s their confidence that draws others in.

How can we learn from them and cultivate confidence? Charisma is about how you carry yourself and how you interact with others. Firstly, focus on how you feel, not how you look. Be aware of your personal worth and strengths, and get to know your true self. Try to be fully present and engaged in the moment. Overcoming personal hurdles takes hard work, and don’t take yourself too seriously. When you are comfortable in your own skin and accept yourself, your confidence will naturally start to shine!

Photo credit: Philippe WEICKMANN