Personal Development

Lesson Learned: It’s ok to be goofy (as long as you’re being yourself)

My blogging style has been described as no-nonsense, down to business, and straight forward. This is not much different than how you might describe me if you knew me outside of my blog.

To be honest, I’m ok with this description. For the most part, it’s accurate. I do tend to be serious and pragmatic, ambitious and goal orientated. I have a strong tendency toward “D” – dominance – in my DISC profile (with a lot of “S” – steadiness – as well).

But, I have another side that a lot of people don’t get to see. It’s my goofy side. Yes, I have one. I have one heck of one in the right situation. (In grade school, this often labeled me as “weird,” which could be, in part, my reluctance to showing it off.) Usually, though, my down-to-business attitude wins out.

Recently, through direct and indirect feedback, I’ve realized that this all-work and no-play attitude can give others the wrong impression – that I don’t like fun. So, I decided to let my guard down, and let a little of that goofiness shine through.

The silliness I employed wasn’t contrived. It was genuine. It was me, just not the me they were used to. And, I was surprised by a few things:

1. How surprised others were! Some people couldn’t believe that I could be silly. (Some of the looks I got were priceless.) That made me realize how important itis to show this side.

2. The reaction was so positive. I made people laugh - there are few things that are better than that! I was able to connect with people on a level I previously wasn’t able to.

3. I could be goofy, but still be taken seriously. I found that acting a little silly didn’t mean others suddenly lost all respect for me, or suddenly thought that I was going to slack. If anything I think it helped me gain a different kind of mutual respect.

I don’t think I’m alone in “forgetting” a certain aspect of my personality. I’m not saying I was being fake; I wasn’t. But, I did forget that it’s ok to have fun, to be silly every once in a while. Maybe for you it’s not being goofy; it could that you’re afraid to show your ambitious, serious, empathetic, intellectual, or social side. Whatever, it is, I challenge you to let your guard down and let this other side shine through.

We can’t be something we’re not.  What we can do is be true to ourselves, our whole selves.