EP 8: Unpolished, Unscripted, and Finally Me

EP 8: Unpolished, Unscripted, and Finally Me

Hi, Hi, Hi, Hello

This week, I had a huge “aha” moment, one of those beautiful, soul-shaking realizations that hits you right between the eyes in the gentlest way. It happened while I was attending the self-care summit I also had the honor of speaking at (thank you, Annetta and Grace!). During one of the sessions, a speaker named Matt said something about authenticity that hit me hard: Authenticity is when we’re present, not performing.

And in that moment, everything clicked.

I realized that somewhere along the way, I started “polishing” myself, especially in my writing. I’ve been structuring and editing my articles to sound more “professional,” thinking that was what I needed to do. But it never felt quite right. And now I know why: it wasn’t fully me.

In this episode, I’m reflecting on what it really means to be authentic and how I’ve been unintentionally stepping away from my truest self in subtle ways. I talk about why I’m done performing and trying to sound “put together” when that’s never been how I flow. My voice is a little scatterbrained, a little bumpy, but deeply real, and I want my writing to reflect that just like this podcast does.

I also share how this tiny realization rippled into other areas of my life, including my first speaking gig at the summit and some recent experiences that reminded me how easy it is to question yourself when others start commenting on who you are (hello, “you talk too much” energy 😅). But even in that, I learned how powerful it is to come back to my own center and say, “This is me, and that’s okay.”

In this episode, I share:
— Why I’ve been resisting structure and editing in my creative process
— The moment I realized I was performing instead of being present
— What writing, speaking, and even being “too much” have taught me about energy
— Why I’m recommitting to being my unfiltered, unpolished, talk-too-fast self
— How stepping off your own path can invite misaligned energy—and how to come back home to yourself

If you’ve ever felt pressure to be more polished, more professional, or just less you, I hope this episode gives you the permission to breathe, soften, and return to the real you. You don’t need to be perfectly structured to make an impact. You just need to be real.

Let this be your reminder that you’re not “too much.” You’re enough, exactly as you are.

And if you’re writing, creating, speaking, or just trying to show up in the world, keep going. The world doesn’t need your performance. It needs your presence. It needs you.

Remember: You are worthy and You are loved.
Cheryl

P.S. Be sure to check out the amazing summit hosts on Substack, Grace and Aneta and speaker Matt and don’t forget to visit herjoyfullife.com for the newsletter, merch, energy art, and updates on upcoming events.