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Be real, not perfect

‘It was the biggest fall in my career that defines who I am.’

Nastia Liukin said this in a recent interview on Impact theory. As a reigning Olympic all-around gold medalist in 2008, she fell flat and hard in her face during the uneven bar routine in the Olympic trial 2012.

She got up, hopped back onto the bar, and finished her routine with a graceful landing. One by one, people rose to their feet. It was the first time she received a standing ovation in her entire career.

In that moment, she realized that there were much more to life than being the best and winning gold medals, which were what she held on tightly for many years.

‘It’s about finding something you are so passionate about and being on that journey with the people who truly love you, support you, and care for you.’

I felt her deeply.

The defining moments at rock bottom
It was my lowest point in life that defines who I am as well — a phase I call rock bottom, where it was so hard and so low that I couldn’t get any worse than that.

In that place, feeling shame, failure, and not enough, I could only hold on to the belief that letting go of a company I didn’t feel connected to is the way to find myself, even though I built it from ground up.

It was then I discovered the importance other fundamental pillars in life that we don’t talk about enough — family, relationship, wellness, and spirituality.

People who love me, care about me, and support me hold my hands and walked with me through the path of getting back on my feet.

I started a career in content writing and a year later, I am self-publishing a book.

You are enough
Even though I am constantly in motion to move a project, it was hard to tell people that I always have this fear that I am not being enough, not doing enough, and not trying enough.

When I heard Nastia Liukin’s interview, she reminded me of the passion that fuels my journey and the people who love, care and never give up on me.

In the past 5 years, my experiences taught me that I could restart again and again, and every single step of the journey built upon each other like piecing together a big puzzle called life.

Knowing what is true to me, I wanted to tell others that ‘it’s okay to try, it’s okay to fall, it’s okay to be imperfect, it’s okay to feel like a failure, it’s okay to figure things out’.

If there’s a voice inside calling for you, answer it, go on an adventure, find out the source. Who you become along the journey will take you to what’s waiting for you on the other side.

Be real, not perfect

I’ve come to term with the fact that resisting fear and inner critics is a sure way that leads suffering and anxiety, but I have something greater inside that could overrule them and strengthen me up.

it is the power of love and vulnerability. I can’t, and I don’t have to walk this path alone.

I hope my story could have an impact on people like how Nastia Liukin’s words impacted me.

We are born to be real, not perfect.

Like to read?
My first book ‘The Art of Owning Your Story’ is ready for pre-order now! Click here to download a bonus chapter!

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