And a couple of weeks ago, an acquaintance learned that I’m a hypnotist. Something I’ve poured years of practice and passion into… my flavor of “weird” that changes lives.

The response? A shrug: “Oh, I don’t believe in that.”

Some people think it’s weird to be a hypnotist. Some think it’s weird that I have an altar in my living room to an elephant-headed deity. Others think it’s weird to track stock prices and call it fun.

But “weird” is where your magic lives…

I used to let comments like that cut me down.

But these days? A flat reply is my cue to “lean into my weird” and double down on time and energy spent with the friends who nerd out about the same stuff I do.

The contrast? Unmistakable.

One space tries to flatten my joy. The other fuels it.

I stopped going back to rooms that made me shrink to “belong” so that my energy could finally flow toward the people and projects that actually light me up.

I’d rather be me, thanks.

Here’s the thing: life is always going to throw you those weird-ass curveballs, and miserable people will try to dim your light for the things you love.

But what if there’s real freedom in finally allowing the “weird,” bright, delighted, curious YOU to take up space in rooms that celebrate it?

As the DNA dust settled last week, I took the cue to stop shrinking my own joy to keep other people comfortable.

And a magical thing started to happen…

New ideas started flowing in.

I began to feel radiant and magnetic again.

I got back into my stock market studies. I chanted in front of my altar and danced to songs I love. I took longer walks and played ukulele and sang to myself, and I started putting together a hypnosis project I’ve been toying with for the past year.

And as I started focusing on what I really enjoy doing, around the people I really enjoy sharing time and space with…

All that “outside pressure” just kind of melted away, and I felt like I could be myself again…

And actually love tf out of it.

And I have just one question for you:

What do you think would be different in your life a year from now if you made the decision today to start “leaning into your weird” and turning life’s curveballs into your excuse to become more “you”?

More joy? More delight?

Feeling that exhale of “finally, I can just be myself”?

And if you’re still reading, I know you feel the tug, so keep reading for 3 tiny ways you can start today…

These aren’t huge life fixes, but they will put some momentum behind your “weird” shine so that more of your real self comes out to play more often. Tiny, doable door-openers.

1) Notice the room today: do you shrink or shine?

Every time you notice someone cutting down your passion, your excitement, or your enthusiasm for something you love…

And every time you notice someone building you up, getting excited with you, cheering you on…

Simply notice how it makes you feel.

Which room makes you feel expansive and alive? Which one deflates you?

Choose to spend more time in the room that fuels you.

Miserable people can suck. But you don’t have to waste your life hoping they’ll change. In fact, let them become your invitation to double down on your own “weird…”

2) Protect your orbit (one micro-boundary + one micro-dose)

Choose to remove just one “flattening” input today.

Mute or unfollow that negative family member. Change the subject to something neutral or something you’re excited about. Step out of the room for a 3-minute “bathroom break” to reset the energy in the air.

Then add one fuel dose. Text a win to that one friend who gets you. Queue up a song that makes you feel like a badass.

Start investing in the environment that votes FOR you, not against you.

3) When people/life/energy gets weird… get weirder.

And when someone does try to cut you down? Make a tiny commitment to yourself to double-down on something you love.

And when someone hypes you up? Lean TF into it.

For me this week, it was ukulele and singing. I started learning a new song that made me feel powerful. It was long conversations with old friends who understand and celebrate me. Buying myself a bouquet of sunflowers.

What’s that one thing you love that you’ve been hiding away?

Do that, even if only for five or ten minutes. Double down on YOU.

You don’t need permission. Pick the move and follow the warmth. Your weird knows the way. The people who “get it” will get brighter with you.