#shamelesslyshiny

This is how I feel on the inside most often. I know that I am lucky to experience so much joy. Part of my mission in life to be #shamelesslyshiny is about allowing myself to outwardly express this. 🙌✨🙌 I’ve come a long way from being a shy kid to the woman I am now, but I still have the impulse all the time to not be “too much”. Do ya feel me?? Those subversive societal rules about what’s okay and not okay to express run deep. . . Fuck “too much”! Let’s be “SO MUCH”! SO MUCH that the outpouring of our joy helps us to feel more joy! SO MUCH that the releasing of our essence allows us to experience more of our true selves. SO MUCH that our bravery inspires others to feel and free themselves!!! . . Give me a 🙌🙌 if ya feel like embracing a little #somuch ✨ . . Wishing you all the love and magic! . . #wellnesswednesday #balimagic . . . 📷 the #shamelesslyshiny and uber talented @kristineilana of @theportraitsessions (at The Lawn Canggu) https://www.instagram.com/p/BsZa-tGBsu2/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1cri9ousa1kq7

#wellnesswednesday Sticking with this weeks theme of being #shamelesslyshiny let’s dig into that a little further shall we? . . Why do we dim our light? Really take a minute and ask yourself why? What areas of your life do you hide? Where are you afraid to fail? Be “too much”? . . I was a very shy kid, like hide under my mom’s hippie broom skirt kind of shy & I don’t think that was a result of my parenting, but rather I came into this world with that journey. I’ve always said it’s my mission to learn to “let my light shine and inspire others to do the same” as Marianne Williamson said. But with that being my journey it’s been an ever evolving challenge where I find opportunities to prove to myself that shining is good and so worth it & also where I find ways to prove to myself that hiding is better & “safer” & shining is scary. I had one particularly scarring experience in junior high where a jealous girl made up something about me because she found out the boy she had a crush on liked me. I was quickly ousted by my group. That feeling, when you’re 14 and suddenly feel like you have no friends, caused a series of beliefs that I STILL feel like I’m undoing sometimes. Like not wearing the really nice clothes in my closet because I don’t want to get too much attention because then I might not have friends. It’s safer to play small. So messed up. Of course I know on an intellectual level that’s all bullshit, but sometimes the programming is real yo & I have to check myself before I wreck myself & ask... “How would the love filled, fearless me do this?” or “what would Aliyah O’Brien do?” That objective perspective can be enough to pull you out of the fear long enough to make a better decision for your wellbeing. Try it 🙌 I promise you, no matter what happens, the WIN is in the rising up & reprogramming that belief within YOURSELF. How we feel about OURSELVES is the GOLD ✨ . . @roubag thank you for helping me spread my wings in this beautiful outfit 🦋 & Forever thankful for my talented & awesome friend Kristine Cofsky @theportraitsessions for encouraging me to shine, & doing impromptu 7 min photo shoots when I get fancy. No joke, 7 min. I LOVE YOU 💖 Cont... (at Vancouver, British Columbia) https://www.instagram.com/p/BrTJot0hqJh/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=kcvdgwzt2gqm

About Saturday night... I truly feel so blessed to be a part of such an incredibly talented and gracious batch of humans. Last night we honoured that talent at the 7th annual @ubcp_actra awards and it was my pleasure to present with my pal @jewelstaite the award for #bestactress 🏆 . . I’ll tell you what guys, you know I like to be up front with you and speak my truth, so I will let you know when I was asked to present, my first thought was, “oh how nice”, followed by “okay what excuse can I come up with that I can’t make it?” Why??? Because as I’ve said before I’m in introvert by nature and these fears and challenges still come up. Luckily I’m not so good at bullshitting myself anymore and I saw this as an opportunity to rise up. And of course, as one always learns, you never regret facing your fears and the whole night was a real joy, because I got to connect with so many I love and remind myself that when I’m centred in my truth, all is well. . . Awesome show #ubcp 🙌 Hosted by the hilarious #jaybrazeau, shout out to my fellow presenters who are some of the most talented, soulful, fun people I know... @jewelstaite @majaarostunts @thebrendanfletcher @richardsharmon @teach.grant #roblabelle @thecatlh @therekhasharma @adrianholmes . . And in an effort to be #shamelesslyshiny I spread my wings and wore this incredible, badass dress by the talented @roubag ✨ Thank you so much Rouba for this #fabulous outfit 🙌 Her dresses are so much more than just fabric, they are a celebration of each woman’s essence, individuality and inner goddess. In her words... “The collections embrace womanhood, femininity and all her supremacy. Each and every piece portrays woman’s independence and grace, expressing her individuality, celebrating her inner Goddess and thus signifying the brand’s unique style. On the other hand, the lavish and sumptuous collection is also prolific in daring and dancing colors. Powerful women dare to wear colors!” #fuckyes . . #daretowear #bebold #bebrave #shine #expressyourself #spreadyourwings @hilaryjardin #imoutofmycocoonbitches #celebratelife #letyourlightshine 📷 1-7: @rynstein Ryan Stein Vancouverweekly.com 8-9- @1heyitsph Phillip Chin (at Vancouver, British Columbia) https://www.instagram.com/p/BrOQE_pHvW7/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=4235axnll71n

This #wellnesswednesday post is all about the power of speaking your #truth 🙌 And I couldn’t be more proud and thrilled to share my dear friend @meghan.cblack ‘s blog with you. meghanblack.com Link in her bio ✨ 💗 I know Meghan, I know her story, and I know her awesomeness, and STILL, reading and watching her blog had me crying, laughing and feeling grateful and inspired 🙏 ✨ Meghan is an incredible soul who’s learned life’s lessons the hard way. She’s a wonderful wife and mother of three, having survived four unrelated cancers, and a myriad of other devastating life challenges, she has persevered to find the light in all the darkness. “What I’ve come to understand is that we can only learn the life lessons we are here to learn when we are fully ready, and with great pain comes great discovery! I kept the focus on myself and eventually created a new story - one that I could have only dreamt of.” 🙏💖🙏 Meghan and I are friends because we love being with each other, we love connecting honestly, we love lovingly calling each other out when we’re out of alignment, we love shaking our booties to hip hop music, and we love learning how to be #shamelesslyshiny and inspiring others to do the same. 💖 I hope Meghan’s journey inspires you as much as it’s inspired me and that you endeavour to light up the world with your truth and your essence. ✨ The truth unites us and sets us free. ✨ Meghan so perfectly quotes @Oprah in her blog... “What I know for sure is that speaking your truth is the most powerful tool we have” 💖 #shareyourtruth #sharethelove #inspire #crackopen #connect #bebrave #beyou #shamelesslyshiny #flowthrough #celebratelife #thebestisyettocome #intruth #shamelesslyshiny #friendshipismagic (at Vancouver, British Columbia) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bqu8vTiBHHJ/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1wznlc6zjslqv