Continuing in our month long discussion of strong women, Coco Chanel got me thinking. For those of you who know me personally, you know I’m not one for high fashion — so you might be surprised that Coco Chanel is one of my thought leaders. While I don’t spend a lot of time thinking about famous French fashion designers, something she said really resonated with me: “How many cares one loses when one decides not to be something, but to be someone.”
Exactly. For me, it’s all about confidence. It’s not about the need to measure up to something else. Instead, who you are is measured by the criteria you set for yourself. Someone has lasting meaning. Something is a place in time.
In my mind, to aspire to “be something” is to create an inauthentic persona or thing by which others judge you. Ultimately, you have no control over other people’s perceptions of you, and yet you are giving them your power.
However, by focusing on being someone, you are developing your best qualities to become the best possible version of yourself. Some days you soar, some days you fall short. But you’re always someone you can be proud of.
Like Coco said, “Be someone.”