‍

What does it mean to be in a beautiful tribe? It will give you the love and support that makes your life meaningful and exciting. Your tribe consists of the people who inspire you to go after your dreams, laugh at your craziest jokes, and cry when things get too real. These are YOUR people—the ones who know exactly how to lift you up when you need it most. My tribe is made up of my family and friends. What about yours?

I am grateful to be part of this tribe because these are the people who love me for me—all of me, flaws and all. These are the people who celebrate my progress and growth, even when I don’t see it. And most importantly, these are the people who let me be my weird, imperfect self and love me for it. They don’t expect me to change or fit into any mold. They celebrate my quirks, passion, and strength. They believe in me when I don’t believe in myself. They hold me accountable and make me laugh when I need it most.

When I see the love and support the tribe gives me, I feel seen. I feel loved. And I begin to feel like I’m enough. We are in an age where we are being fed the message that if we aren’t doing everything, we aren’t enough. We are being told that we need to be everything and do everything so that we can be successful. That we need to be perfect. And the more we chase after perfection, the more we lose ourselves. We forget that our imperfections are what make us perfect. We forget that the path to growth is through our imperfections. We forget that it’s okay to be human, to make mistakes, to be messy and flawed and beautiful. That’s why being part of this tribe reminds me that I am enough.

Being part of a tribe that loves and supports you means you also have to learn how to love and support that tribe. You have to learn how to create a safe space where people feel comfortable being their authentic selves. You have to let go of the need to be perfect, the need to have it all together, so that others can feel safe enough to go after their dreams and passions. You have to understand that you can’t do it all, and that’s okay. Everyone needs to learn how to let themselves off the hook and take care of themselves. You have to understand that it’s okay to not be there for someone else as much as they need or want you to be.

The tribe lets me laugh at the absurdities of life. The things that make absolutely no sense whatsoever. The things that are ridiculous, but we all do so that we can survive. They let me laugh at my own mistakes and missteps. They help me laugh at the world and how it works. They help me laugh at the challenges I am facing and will face in the future. They help me laugh at the fact that we are all struggling through this journey and trying to make sense of it all. They help me see the absurdity in all of this. The absurdity in the idea that we have to prove ourselves to one another. The absurdity in the message that perfection is the only way to be successful. The absurdity in the fact that we aren’t believed or given the opportunity to say, “This is me. This is who I am.”

Being part of a tribe that loves and supports you also shows you that it’s not just you who is struggling. We are all struggling to find our way. We are all trying to get our footing. We are all trying to find the courage to chase after our dreams and be the person we were meant to be. We all have our own challenges to face, and it’s in the midst of the tribe that we are able to find the courage to face them. The tribe is there to hold you when you fall and make you believe that you will get back up again. The tribe is there to comfort you when you need it most and remind you that everyone is going through their own journey. The tribe is there to let you cry so that you can release the emotions that you have been holding in for too long. The tribe is there to help you find the inspiration to keep moving forward when you don’t know how.

Being part of a tribe that loves and supports you means you have a responsibility to the tribe. You have the responsibility to let your light shine and allow others to be seen by you. You have the responsibility to be kind, compassionate, and authentic with those who are a part of your tribe. You have the responsibility to build and foster community. You have the responsibility to be your best self and encourage others to do the same. You have the responsibility to speak your truth and work to create a world that reflects who you are truly meant to be. You have the responsibility to show others that they are enough and have a place in this world. You have the responsibility to remind others that they don’t have to be perfect. You have the responsibility to remind others that they are enough just as they are and that they are worthy of love. You have the responsibility to rise and lead. You have the responsibility to lead those who follow you to the best version of themselves. You have the responsibility to lead yourself so that you can grow and thrive.

Ashley Yeo 

The post Blessed With My Beautiful Tribe appeared first on Ashley Yeo.