How often have you been inspired by someone's success, someone's lifestyle, or even someone's outfit, and gone about creating the exact same thing for yourself, only to find out it doesn't quite fit the way you thought it would?

It looks so perfect on them, so naturally you assumed it would be just as perfect for you. But then you put it on, whether it's the outfit, the career path, or even the daily routine, and something feels off. It's not that it's bad, it's just not you.

In today's world, we are surrounded by images of what success, happiness, and beauty should look like. And it is so tempting to try and mold ourselves into these images. We see someone who seems to have it all together, and we think, if I just do what they do, I'll get the same results. But more often than not, this leads to the frustrating realization that what works for someone else doesn't necessarily work for us. It ends up feeling like we're wearing someone else's skin, and no matter how hard we try, it just doesn't fit.

So today, I want to talk about the difference between inspiration and imitation, and why it's so important to honor your own authenticity.

I'll share how you can take what inspires you from others and adapt it in a way that feels true to you. So then instead of just copying someone else's life, you're creating a life that's uniquely yours, and importantly, one that feels right to you in all the ways that matter to you.

This is what I like to call Authentic Imitation. And by the end of this episode, you'll see how you can start turning inspiration into something that fits you like a glove.

Welcome to The Self-Creation School podcast, for women who are ready to ditch mediocrity, step up and get more of what they want, and finally say YES! to a life that sets their soul on fire. I'm your host Leanne Letica, Self-Creation Coach, founder of The Self-Creation School AND Queen of YES!. If you're ready to play life by your own personal rule book, and give yourself permission to say YES! to yourself and your wildest dreams, this podcast is the place for you.

Welcome to this episode of The Self-Creation School podcast, where we are talking about Authentic Imitation. A very warm hello to you, and if you are listening in for the very first time, an extra special welcome to you. This podcast is where I share my Self-Creation secrets to help you say YES! to you and a life you love waking up to every single day.

If you are ready to move beyond a status quo life that looks good, to one that feels good in all the ways that actually matter to you, this is the place to tune into every Wednesday to help you do exactly that.

Today I'm getting into the nitty gritty of a topic that I think so many of us can relate to. How to stay true to ourselves in a world that often encourages us to follow someone else's path. I know from personal experience how easy it is to get caught up in what other people are doing, especially when it seems to be working so well for them. But as I mentioned in my introduction to this episode, what's right for them isn't necessarily what's right for you.

I've seen this play out countless times, whether it's in business, relationships, or even something as simple as fashion choices. We look to others for inspiration, and that's a beautiful thing by the way, but when we cross the line from inspiration to imitation without making it our own, we lose touch with what truly makes us and our life shine.

So let's talk about how to embrace what inspires you while staying firmly rooted in your own identity to ensure that everything you bring into your life truly reflects who you want to be.

A couple of recent experiences actually inspired me to talk about this topic today. The first was my summer vacation in Turkey and the Greek islands with friends who were visiting from my home country, Australia.

Our friends are actually in Europe for a couple of months, and they had booked three different cruises during this time that we could choose between to spend some time with them. But it happened that the cruise that appealed the most to my husband and I was the same cruise that our friends were doing with their other friends from Australia, and they were friends we had never met.

So my husband and I took that cruise off our list since we didn't really want to gate-crash their party, and we started looking at the other two cruises, both of which really didn't appear to us as much as the first cruise. On the surface, we liked the idea of them, but they just didn't feel like a true fit.

And as much as we tried, and we did, to make our ideals fit into one of these other cruises, as much as we tried to convince ourselves that either of these cruises would be amazing, deep down we knew that we were trying too hard to make our friend's inspiring travel plans fit with our own travel desires.

In the end, we chose the first cruise and I'm very glad we did because, as it turns out, both our friends and their friends had the exact same approach to how they wanted to experience this trip as we did. That approach was, we're here together and let's have some fun, but if we want to do this or that, we'll go and do this or that and meet up later.

Here's the thing. We all took inspiration from each other at every port of call as to the kinds of things we could see and do. But what we focused first and foremost on doing was taking that inspiration and creating an experience that was unique and authentic to ourselves.

Some days that meant we did the same things together, and some days it meant we did the same things separately in order to do them faster or slower or at different times of the day. And sometimes it meant we did different things all together.

Now on the surface, we all did the same thing. We took a cruise through Turkey and the Greek islands. But how each of us experienced the cruise and made it our own was authentic to each of our own travel ideals and goals, to the kind of experience that felt good to us.

For me, this is a really practical example of how you can be inspired to do the same thing as someone else is doing, but do it in your own way, in a way that is true to you. It's being authentically inspired as opposed to imitating someone else's authenticity.

The second experience that brought this concept of Authentic Imitation into very sharp focus for me was something that happened when I returned from that wonderful vacation. I discovered that another coach had copied 99 percent of an article from my blog and passed it off as her own.

Now, imitation might be the sincerest form of flattery, but in this case, it felt less like flattery and more like a missed opportunity for that coach. You see, the article might have covered a topic that she wanted to speak about, but it wasn't written in her own words, in line with her own coaching philosophy. And I'm pretty sure it didn't reflect the way she would normally engage with her audience.

Instead of taking the inspiration and making it her own, she simply replicated my work. And here's the thing. Aside from the obvious legal and ethical issues, this approach didn't serve her or her audience. It might have checked the box for publishing an article that week, but it missed the mark in terms of authenticity.

Now her audience, who knows her voice and her style, could likely sense that something was off when they read that blog post. The connection was likely either greatly reduced or missing altogether because it wasn't written from her heart, it didn't carry her unique essence.

I am happy to say that this coach very quickly removed the blog post when I contacted her about this copyright infringement. But I still wanted to share this incident as an example because it perfectly encapsulates why it is so crucial to take inspiration and make it your own.

When you simply copy someone else, you're not truly connecting with yourself or the experience you want to create. You're just going through the motions to tick a box and honestly, it shows every single time.

Which brings me to talking about the pitfalls of inauthentic imitation.

When you choose to imitate someone else without making it your own, you risk losing your sense of identity. Now, I know it's easy to get caught up in the allure of someone else's success or style, thinking that if you just replicate what they've done, you'll achieve the same results. I'm guilty of that, I absolutely am. But the truth is, imitation without authenticity is almost guaranteed to lead to a lack of fulfillment. Because it's like living someone else's life instead of your own, and that disconnect can be deeply unsatisfying.

Take the example of the coach who copied my work. By simply replicating my article, she may have hoped to deliver value to her audience, but in reality, she missed out on the opportunity to connect with them in a meaningful way.

Her audience comes to her for her unique perspective, her voice, and her approach. This is her brand identity. By not infusing the article with her own insights and personality, she not only shortchanged her audience, but she also shortchanged herself. It was a missed chance to deepen her relationship with the people she serves and to express her own authentic message.

This is the danger of inauthentic imitation. It disconnects you from your true self. And you will find yourself spending a whole lot of time and energy checking off tasks or following a path that looks good on the outside, but it won't feel right on the inside because it's not truly yours. Over time, this will lead you to things like frustration, a sense of emptiness, and a loss of confidence in your own abilities.

Listen, we all have our own unique gifts and perspectives to offer the world. And when we try to simply mimic someone else's gifts and perspectives, someone else's way of showing up in their world, we end up dimming our own light. The real power lies in taking inspiration and using it to help you create something that is uniquely yours. Something that resonates with who you are at your core.

Taking inspiration from others and the world around you is a really beautiful thing. It can open your eyes to new possibilities and expand your sense of SELF when you integrate these inspirations in a way that truly honors the uniqueness of you.

So I am definitely not suggesting you should never look to anyone else or anything else for inspiration. What I am suggesting is that you use that inspiration in the way that the very word itself is defined – as a process of drawing ideas, motivation, or creative energy from others or from external sources to spark the creation of something new and uniquely personal.

I strive to seek out sources of inspiration in my life every single day. It keeps the creativity in my brain alive. It helps prevent me from becoming stagnant in who I be in my life. And it constantly expands the vision I hold for what's possible in my world.

Inspiration is a beautiful thing, and I highly encourage you to actively seek out inspiration. But in doing so, it is just as important to avoid falling into the trap of inauthentic imitation. And it is easy to confuse inspiration and imitation, so really understanding the distinction between the two is crucial for creating a life that is uniquely yours.

Here's what I want you to remember.

Inspiration, like I said before, is drawing ideas, motivation and creative energy from others or the world around you and using this as a springboard for creating something uniquely yours, not as a template to copy.

Imitation is replicating what someone else has done, often without considering whether it aligns with your own value, strengths and desires. It might seem like a shortcut to success, but in reality, it often leads to dissatisfaction and a sense of disconnection from your true SELF.

When you imitate someone else without making it your own, you're simply following a path that was designed for someone else, not for you. It will never feel completely right, because the reality is it doesn't fit the authentic you completely right.

So, how do you avoid inauthentic imitation and turn inspiration into something that feels authentic?

Well, it starts with embracing your own authenticity and knowing yourself intimately and then using inspiration as a tool to enhance and elevate those aspects of who you are. When you approach inspiration in this way, you're not just copying someone else's life, you're creating your own in a way that is deeply personal and fulfilling.

Let me offer you some tips on how to get to know your authentic SELF.

Number one is to identify your core values. Your core values are the foundation of who you are. They guide your decisions, they influence your behavior, and they shape your goals. Without a clear understanding of your values, it's easy to be swayed by what everyone else is doing even if that doesn't align with what truly matters to you.

So take some time to reflect on what's most important to you. Ask yourself questions like, what principles are important to me? What values drive my decisions? What do I want to stand for? And write down the top three to five values that resonate most with you. These values will serve as your compass when you're drawing inspiration from others, and help you filter out what doesn't align with your authentic SELF.

Tip number two is to recognize your strengths. Your strengths are your unique assets. They're what you bring to the table that no one else can replicate in exactly the same way. When you focus on your strengths, you're more likely to create something that not only feels right, but also sets you apart.

To help you recognize your strengths, spend some time to reflect on your past successes. What are the common skills, talents or traits that helped you achieve those successes? You can also ask a close friend or colleagues for their perspective on your strengths. Then once you've identified them, think about how you can use these strengths to put your own spin on the inspiration you draw from others.

My third tip is to define your goals. Goals give direction to your life. When you have clear goals, you're less likely to be distracted by paths that aren't meant for you. Instead, you'll be focused on what truly aligns with where you want to go.

I recommend starting by visualizing your ideal life. What do you want to achieve? What does success look like for you? How do you want to experience your every day? Then from these, write down your short-term and long-term goals. Then every time you're inspired by someone or something, assess whether it aligns with these goals. If it doesn't, it's a sign that you might need to adapt it a whole lot or simply, move on.

Knowing who you are at the core and what you want will help you use inspiration in a way that remains authentic to you and importantly keeps you on track to creating a life that feels like the perfect fit.

I want to offer you three more tips to help you embrace this concept of Authentic Imitation before we close out today's conversation.

My first tip is to always stop to think, how can you personalize your inspiration? Remember, inspiration is meant to be a springboard, not a blueprint. By personalizing inspiration, you ensure that it fits your life, your values, and your goals, making it uniquely yours.

When you come across something inspiring, whether it's a routine, a style, a business idea, ask yourself, how can I adapt this to fit my life? What elements of this resonate with me? And how can I infuse them with my own personality and creativity? Then modify it in a way that feels right to you.

This might mean tweaking a process, combining it with other ideas, or even completely reimagining it to better suit who you are. It might mean discarding the inspiration altogether. It is completely okay to be inspired by something and not need to do anything with that inspiration.

My second tip is to trust your inner voice. If you are clear on your core values, your strengths and your goals, what it is that matters to you most, your inner voice will be your most authentic guide. It's the part of you that knows what feels right and what doesn't? Trusting it helps you stay true to your SELF, even when outside influences are strong.

So pay attention to your gut feelings. When something doesn't feel right, take a step back and reassess. Ask yourself, does this align with my values? Does this use my strengths? Does this support my goals? If the answer is no, it's okay to walk away and find a different source of inspiration that better fits you.

And my final tip is to celebrate your uniqueness. My friend, the world doesn't need another copy of someone else. It needs you, in all of your unique glory. When you celebrate what makes you different, you're so much more likely to create a life that's not only fulfilling for you, but also inspiring to others.

Reflect on what makes you unique, what experiences, perspectives, and talents do you have that others might not? How can you bring these into your work, your relationships, into your daily life and give back the inspiration you take from the world? Embrace and amplify these qualities and let them shine through in everything you do.

Remember, the goal of inspiration isn't to turn you into someone else. It's to help you become the best version of you. And by staying true to your core values, leveraging your strengths, defining your goals, and personalizing the inspiration you receive from the world, you'll be able to create a life that looks good, not because it ticks the boxes of the status quo, but because it feels good in all the ways that ultimately matter.

Nothing will ever look as good as a life that is lived authentically. Embrace your uniqueness, trust your inner voice, and always strive to make what inspires you a reflection of who you truly are. Say no to simply copying and YES! to creating something that is unmistakably, wonderfully and completely you.

I want to leave you with this. The most beautiful life you can create is one that reflects the truest version of you. That is what true success is, my friend, and it's the kind of success that will finally deliver you to a deeply authentic and satisfying life experience.

That's it from me this week on the topic of Authentic Imitation. As always, I'd love to hear about your takeaways from this conversation and how these takeaways have helped you say YES! to you and a life you love. So connect with me over on my socials or feel free to drop me a line by email and tell me all the things. I'd really love to hear from you.

Of course, if you found this episode inspiring, you can help inspire other women by leaving me a rating and a review, and also by sharing this with the women whose authenticity you want to help celebrate.

I look forward to hearing from you and to having you join me next Wednesday for more Self-Creation secrets just like this.

Until then, be the woman who says YES!

Hey, want to know what's stopping you from saying YES! to you and a life you love?

Head over to https://selfcreationschool.com/yesblock and take my FREE 60 second quiz to find out what's standing in your way today and I'll send you my Self-Creation Shift process for shifting it.

That's https://selfcreationschool.com/yesblock. I’ll see you there.

How often have you been inspired by someone's success, someone's lifestyle, or even someone's outfit, and gone about creating the exact same thing for yourself, only to find out it doesn't quite fit the way you thought it would?

It looks so perfect on them, so naturally you assumed it would be just as perfect for you. But then you put it on, whether it's the outfit, the career path, or even the daily routine, and something feels off. It's not that it's bad, it's just not you.

In today's world, we are surrounded by images of what success, happiness, and beauty should look like. And it is so tempting to try and mold ourselves into these images. We see someone who seems to have it all together, and we think, if I just do what they do, I'll get the same results. But more often than not, this leads to the frustrating realization that what works for someone else doesn't necessarily work for us. It ends up feeling like we're wearing someone else's skin, and no matter how hard we try, it just doesn't fit.

So today, I want to talk about the difference between inspiration and imitation, and why it's so important to honor your own authenticity.

I'll share how you can take what inspires you from others and adapt it in a way that feels true to you. So then instead of just copying someone else's life, you're creating a life that's uniquely yours, and importantly, one that feels right to you in all the ways that matter to you.

This is what I like to call Authentic Imitation. And by the end of this episode, you'll see how you can start turning inspiration into something that fits you like a glove.

Welcome to The Self-Creation School podcast, for women who are ready to ditch mediocrity, step up and get more of what they want, and finally say YES! to a life that sets their soul on fire. I'm your host Leanne Letica, Self-Creation Coach, founder of The Self-Creation School AND Queen of YES!. If you're ready to play life by your own personal rule book, and give yourself permission to say YES! to yourself and your wildest dreams, this podcast is the place for you.

Welcome to this episode of The Self-Creation School podcast, where we are talking about Authentic Imitation. A very warm hello to you, and if you are listening in for the very first time, an extra special welcome to you. This podcast is where I share my Self-Creation secrets to help you say YES! to you and a life you love waking up to every single day.

If you are ready to move beyond a status quo life that looks good, to one that feels good in all the ways that actually matter to you, this is the place to tune into every Wednesday to help you do exactly that.

Today I'm getting into the nitty gritty of a topic that I think so many of us can relate to. How to stay true to ourselves in a world that often encourages us to follow someone else's path. I know from personal experience how easy it is to get caught up in what other people are doing, especially when it seems to be working so well for them. But as I mentioned in my introduction to this episode, what's right for them isn't necessarily what's right for you.

I've seen this play out countless times, whether it's in business, relationships, or even something as simple as fashion choices. We look to others for inspiration, and that's a beautiful thing by the way, but when we cross the line from inspiration to imitation without making it our own, we lose touch with what truly makes us and our life shine.

So let's talk about how to embrace what inspires you while staying firmly rooted in your own identity to ensure that everything you bring into your life truly reflects who you want to be.

A couple of recent experiences actually inspired me to talk about this topic today. The first was my summer vacation in Turkey and the Greek islands with friends who were visiting from my home country, Australia.

Our friends are actually in Europe for a couple of months, and they had booked three different cruises during this time that we could choose between to spend some time with them. But it happened that the cruise that appealed the most to my husband and I was the same cruise that our friends were doing with their other friends from Australia, and they were friends we had never met.

So my husband and I took that cruise off our list since we didn't really want to gate-crash their party, and we started looking at the other two cruises, both of which really didn't appear to us as much as the first cruise. On the surface, we liked the idea of them, but they just didn't feel like a true fit.

And as much as we tried, and we did, to make our ideals fit into one of these other cruises, as much as we tried to convince ourselves that either of these cruises would be amazing, deep down we knew that we were trying too hard to make our friend's inspiring travel plans fit with our own travel desires.

In the end, we chose the first cruise and I'm very glad we did because, as it turns out, both our friends and their friends had the exact same approach to how they wanted to experience this trip as we did. That approach was, we're here together and let's have some fun, but if we want to do this or that, we'll go and do this or that and meet up later.

Here's the thing. We all took inspiration from each other at every port of call as to the kinds of things we could see and do. But what we focused first and foremost on doing was taking that inspiration and creating an experience that was unique and authentic to ourselves.

Some days that meant we did the same things together, and some days it meant we did the same things separately in order to do them faster or slower or at different times of the day. And sometimes it meant we did different things all together.

Now on the surface, we all did the same thing. We took a cruise through Turkey and the Greek islands. But how each of us experienced the cruise and made it our own was authentic to each of our own travel ideals and goals, to the kind of experience that felt good to us.

For me, this is a really practical example of how you can be inspired to do the same thing as someone else is doing, but do it in your own way, in a way that is true to you. It's being authentically inspired as opposed to imitating someone else's authenticity.

The second experience that brought this concept of Authentic Imitation into very sharp focus for me was something that happened when I returned from that wonderful vacation. I discovered that another coach had copied 99 percent of an article from my blog and passed it off as her own.

Now, imitation might be the sincerest form of flattery, but in this case, it felt less like flattery and more like a missed opportunity for that coach. You see, the article might have covered a topic that she wanted to speak about, but it wasn't written in her own words, in line with her own coaching philosophy. And I'm pretty sure it didn't reflect the way she would normally engage with her audience.

Instead of taking the inspiration and making it her own, she simply replicated my work. And here's the thing. Aside from the obvious legal and ethical issues, this approach didn't serve her or her audience. It might have checked the box for publishing an article that week, but it missed the mark in terms of authenticity.

Now her audience, who knows her voice and her style, could likely sense that something was off when they read that blog post. The connection was likely either greatly reduced or missing altogether because it wasn't written from her heart, it didn't carry her unique essence.

I am happy to say that this coach very quickly removed the blog post when I contacted her about this copyright infringement. But I still wanted to share this incident as an example because it perfectly encapsulates why it is so crucial to take inspiration and make it your own.

When you simply copy someone else, you're not truly connecting with yourself or the experience you want to create. You're just going through the motions to tick a box and honestly, it shows every single time.

Which brings me to talking about the pitfalls of inauthentic imitation.

When you choose to imitate someone else without making it your own, you risk losing your sense of identity. Now, I know it's easy to get caught up in the allure of someone else's success or style, thinking that if you just replicate what they've done, you'll achieve the same results. I'm guilty of that, I absolutely am. But the truth is, imitation without authenticity is almost guaranteed to lead to a lack of fulfillment. Because it's like living someone else's life instead of your own, and that disconnect can be deeply unsatisfying.

Take the example of the coach who copied my work. By simply replicating my article, she may have hoped to deliver value to her audience, but in reality, she missed out on the opportunity to connect with them in a meaningful way.

Her audience comes to her for her unique perspective, her voice, and her approach. This is her brand identity. By not infusing the article with her own insights and personality, she not only shortchanged her audience, but she also shortchanged herself. It was a missed chance to deepen her relationship with the people she serves and to express her own authentic message.

This is the danger of inauthentic imitation. It disconnects you from your true self. And you will find yourself spending a whole lot of time and energy checking off tasks or following a path that looks good on the outside, but it won't feel right on the inside because it's not truly yours. Over time, this will lead you to things like frustration, a sense of emptiness, and a loss of confidence in your own abilities.

Listen, we all have our own unique gifts and perspectives to offer the world. And when we try to simply mimic someone else's gifts and perspectives, someone else's way of showing up in their world, we end up dimming our own light. The real power lies in taking inspiration and using it to help you create something that is uniquely yours. Something that resonates with who you are at your core.

Taking inspiration from others and the world around you is a really beautiful thing. It can open your eyes to new possibilities and expand your sense of SELF when you integrate these inspirations in a way that truly honors the uniqueness of you.

So I am definitely not suggesting you should never look to anyone else or anything else for inspiration. What I am suggesting is that you use that inspiration in the way that the very word itself is defined – as a process of drawing ideas, motivation, or creative energy from others or from external sources to spark the creation of something new and uniquely personal.

I strive to seek out sources of inspiration in my life every single day. It keeps the creativity in my brain alive. It helps prevent me from becoming stagnant in who I be in my life. And it constantly expands the vision I hold for what's possible in my world.

Inspiration is a beautiful thing, and I highly encourage you to actively seek out inspiration. But in doing so, it is just as important to avoid falling into the trap of inauthentic imitation. And it is easy to confuse inspiration and imitation, so really understanding the distinction between the two is crucial for creating a life that is uniquely yours.

Here's what I want you to remember.

Inspiration, like I said before, is drawing ideas, motivation and creative energy from others or the world around you and using this as a springboard for creating something uniquely yours, not as a template to copy.

Imitation is replicating what someone else has done, often without considering whether it aligns with your own value, strengths and desires. It might seem like a shortcut to success, but in reality, it often leads to dissatisfaction and a sense of disconnection from your true SELF.

When you imitate someone else without making it your own, you're simply following a path that was designed for someone else, not for you. It will never feel completely right, because the reality is it doesn't fit the authentic you completely right.

So, how do you avoid inauthentic imitation and turn inspiration into something that feels authentic?

Well, it starts with embracing your own authenticity and knowing yourself intimately and then using inspiration as a tool to enhance and elevate those aspects of who you are. When you approach inspiration in this way, you're not just copying someone else's life, you're creating your own in a way that is deeply personal and fulfilling.

Let me offer you some tips on how to get to know your authentic SELF.

Number one is to identify your core values. Your core values are the foundation of who you are. They guide your decisions, they influence your behavior, and they shape your goals. Without a clear understanding of your values, it's easy to be swayed by what everyone else is doing even if that doesn't align with what truly matters to you.

So take some time to reflect on what's most important to you. Ask yourself questions like, what principles are important to me? What values drive my decisions? What do I want to stand for? And write down the top three to five values that resonate most with you. These values will serve as your compass when you're drawing inspiration from others, and help you filter out what doesn't align with your authentic SELF.

Tip number two is to recognize your strengths. Your strengths are your unique assets. They're what you bring to the table that no one else can replicate in exactly the same way. When you focus on your strengths, you're more likely to create something that not only feels right, but also sets you apart.

To help you recognize your strengths, spend some time to reflect on your past successes. What are the common skills, talents or traits that helped you achieve those successes? You can also ask a close friend or colleagues for their perspective on your strengths. Then once you've identified them, think about how you can use these strengths to put your own spin on the inspiration you draw from others.

My third tip is to define your goals. Goals give direction to your life. When you have clear goals, you're less likely to be distracted by paths that aren't meant for you. Instead, you'll be focused on what truly aligns with where you want to go.

I recommend starting by visualizing your ideal life. What do you want to achieve? What does success look like for you? How do you want to experience your every day? Then from these, write down your short-term and long-term goals. Then every time you're inspired by someone or something, assess whether it aligns with these goals. If it doesn't, it's a sign that you might need to adapt it a whole lot or simply, move on.

Knowing who you are at the core and what you want will help you use inspiration in a way that remains authentic to you and importantly keeps you on track to creating a life that feels like the perfect fit.

I want to offer you three more tips to help you embrace this concept of Authentic Imitation before we close out today's conversation.

My first tip is to always stop to think, how can you personalize your inspiration? Remember, inspiration is meant to be a springboard, not a blueprint. By personalizing inspiration, you ensure that it fits your life, your values, and your goals, making it uniquely yours.

When you come across something inspiring, whether it's a routine, a style, a business idea, ask yourself, how can I adapt this to fit my life? What elements of this resonate with me? And how can I infuse them with my own personality and creativity? Then modify it in a way that feels right to you.

This might mean tweaking a process, combining it with other ideas, or even completely reimagining it to better suit who you are. It might mean discarding the inspiration altogether. It is completely okay to be inspired by something and not need to do anything with that inspiration.

My second tip is to trust your inner voice. If you are clear on your core values, your strengths and your goals, what it is that matters to you most, your inner voice will be your most authentic guide. It's the part of you that knows what feels right and what doesn't? Trusting it helps you stay true to your SELF, even when outside influences are strong.

So pay attention to your gut feelings. When something doesn't feel right, take a step back and reassess. Ask yourself, does this align with my values? Does this use my strengths? Does this support my goals? If the answer is no, it's okay to walk away and find a different source of inspiration that better fits you.

And my final tip is to celebrate your uniqueness. My friend, the world doesn't need another copy of someone else. It needs you, in all of your unique glory. When you celebrate what makes you different, you're so much more likely to create a life that's not only fulfilling for you, but also inspiring to others.

Reflect on what makes you unique, what experiences, perspectives, and talents do you have that others might not? How can you bring these into your work, your relationships, into your daily life and give back the inspiration you take from the world? Embrace and amplify these qualities and let them shine through in everything you do.

Remember, the goal of inspiration isn't to turn you into someone else. It's to help you become the best version of you. And by staying true to your core values, leveraging your strengths, defining your goals, and personalizing the inspiration you receive from the world, you'll be able to create a life that looks good, not because it ticks the boxes of the status quo, but because it feels good in all the ways that ultimately matter.

Nothing will ever look as good as a life that is lived authentically. Embrace your uniqueness, trust your inner voice, and always strive to make what inspires you a reflection of who you truly are. Say no to simply copying and YES! to creating something that is unmistakably, wonderfully and completely you.

I want to leave you with this. The most beautiful life you can create is one that reflects the truest version of you. That is what true success is, my friend, and it's the kind of success that will finally deliver you to a deeply authentic and satisfying life experience.

That's it from me this week on the topic of Authentic Imitation. As always, I'd love to hear about your takeaways from this conversation and how these takeaways have helped you say YES! to you and a life you love. So connect with me over on my socials or feel free to drop me a line by email and tell me all the things. I'd really love to hear from you.

Of course, if you found this episode inspiring, you can help inspire other women by leaving me a rating and a review, and also by sharing this with the women whose authenticity you want to help celebrate.

I look forward to hearing from you and to having you join me next Wednesday for more Self-Creation secrets just like this.

Until then, be the woman who says YES!

Hey, want to know what's stopping you from saying YES! to you and a life you love?

Head over to https://selfcreationschool.com/yesblock and take my FREE 60 second quiz to find out what's standing in your way today and I'll send you my Self-Creation Shift process for shifting it.

That's https://selfcreationschool.com/yesblock. I’ll see you there.