The pain of becoming visible

For some of us, it is really painful to make ourselves visible to the world. Be it as an artist or a business owner, who wants to infuse their creativity, as well as passion into what they do.

On the one hand we want to be visible and on the other hand there’s often a huge trepidation around it.

It’s like a push and pull at the same time. Yes and no.

‘Maybe I’ll do it some time in the future, when I’m ready…’

I remember when I used to perform my own, original one woman shows, how I wanted to have an audience, but was also afraid it would be too overwhelming, when there showed up too many.

Sometimes I oddly would be relieved and disappointed at the same time, with only a few people showing up, instead of having a full house.

It’s really hard to explain, it’s complicated…

Some of us have been silent for a long time, hiding, because it felt safer. Maybe we were more on the introverted side anyways, or highly sensitive, or both. Which can make it more tricky to show up in a way, that also feels sustainable and good to us, authentic.

If there’s a history of an emotionally abusive relationship in the past or having grown up in a household where we either never felt seen or attacked, the whole subject of visibility can be very challenging, as well as triggering. We need to be extra gentle with ourselves when proceeding within this territory, attempting to come out of hiding, be seen fully.

It feels like this juxta position of once more, either I will be ignored or I will be attacked and we even can’t imagine anything else. Let alone that something good might happen.

And of course, there is the reality, posting a video for example, no one might react or we might get a stupid comment. Yes, it will happen, most probably.

Which is why, we need to be willing to deal with the pain of becoming visible. Facing up to the triggers, when for example we get the reactions or non reactions we dreaded so much.

Because it’ll for sure will be a roller coaster journey worth while taking, sharing our authentic voice, business and creativity. It might help us to lean into our values, to remind ourselves often why we are doing this in the first place. To inspire, to contribute, etc.

Sometimes it might be also a good idea to get some outside support, a person or life coach, who encourages us to come out of hiding, ever so gently.

I for example have made the commit to become more visible to both myself as well as those people, who need to hear what I’ve got to say. The ones, who have been silenced, or are silencing themselves, but long to come out of their shell.

There’s so much untapped underground wisdom and talent hidden away, which needs to be shared with the world in my opinion. Now, maybe more than never. That’s how I remind myself why I am doing, what I am doing.

And just as a little side note, because Christmas is around the corner, there are now 23 of my artworks available on Fine Art America. You can get an art print, a notebook, or a greeting card etc. They do deliver to Canada and Europe as well, apart from the United States.

Finally, I hand it over to you.

What is your biggest challenge, when it comes to showing up more, becoming visible to the world with your art, business etc.? I would love to know.